The Road
Robert Earl Keen Lyrics

Sherry was a waitress at the only joint in town
Sherry was employed at the sole hangout spot in the locality

She had a reputation as a girl who'd been around
Sherry was notorious for being experienced with men

Down Main Street after midnight with a brand new pack of cigs
Sherry would roam around the main street with a fresh pack of cigarettes at night

A fresh one hangin' from her lips and a beer between her legs
With a lit cigarette in her mouth and a bottle of beer between her legs

She'd ride down to the river and meet with all her friends
Sherry would oftentimes cruise to the river and rendezvous with her pals

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
Sherry's lifestyle of partying and socializing continues without a break

Sonny was a loner he was older than the rest
Sonny was a solitudinous man who was senior to his peers

He was going into the Navy but he couldn't pass the test
Although Sonny intended to join the Navy, he couldn't make the cut

So he hung around town he sold a little pot
Thus, he stayed in the town and sold small quantities of marijuana

The law caught wind of Sonny and one day he got caught
Eventually, the authorities were alerted to Sonny's illegal operations and he was arrested

But he was back in business when they set him free again
However, he resumed his drug trade as soon as he was released from jail

Sonny's playin' 8-ball at the joint where Sherry works
Sonny is playing a game of pool at the tavern where Sherry served

When some drunken outta towner put his hand up Sherry's skirt
A drunken outsider inappropriately touched Sherry

Sonny took his pool cue laid the drunk out on the floor
Sonny used his pool cue to knock out the drunken man

Stuffed a dollar in her tip jar and walked on out the door
He left a dollar in Sherry's tip jar and left the establishment abruptly

She's runnin' right behind him reachin' for his hand
Sherry chased Sonny down, reaching for his hand

They jumped into his pickup Sonny jammed her down in gear
Both of them hopped into Sonny's vehicle, and he put it into gear

Sonny looked at Sherry and said lets get on outta here
Sonny suggested to Sherry that they leave town ASAP

The stars were high above them and the moon was in the east
The sky was filled with stars, while the moon was visible toward the east

The sun was settin' on them when they reached Miami Beach
The sun had set when they finally arrived at Miami Beach

They got a hotel by the water and a quart of Bombay gin
They booked a waterfront room at a hotel and acquired a bottle of Bombay gin

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
Their wild adventures have only just begun, with partying being the mainstay of their lives

They soon ran out of money but Sonny knew a man
While they soon became broke, Sonny knew a fellow who could help them out

Who knew some Cuban refugees that delt in contraband
This acquaintance knew some Cuban fugitives who were selling illegal substances

Sonny met the Cubans in a house just off the route
Sonny arranges a meeting with the fugitives in a house along their way

With a briefcase full of money and a pistol in his boot
Sonny arrives at the meeting with a briefcase jam-packed with cash and a firearm concealed in his shoe

The cards were on the table when the law came bustin' in
While they were negotiating, law enforcement crashed into the house

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
Despite the moment of adversity, their lives continue on - with partying persisting as a way of life

The Cubans grabbed the goodies and Sonny grabbed the Jack
As the Cubans swept up the merchandise, Sonny took the money and ran

He broke a bathroom window and climbed on out the back
He rips a bathroom window open and escapes via the back

Sherry drove the pickup through the alley on the side
Meanwhile, Sherry drove the pickup truck through the wide alley

Where a lawman tackled Sonny and was reading him his rights
In the process, a law enforcer tackled Sonny to the ground and began to arrest him

She stepped into the alley with a single shot .410
Sherry swiftly appeared in the alley, wielding a .410 shotgun

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
While this was quite an eventful and dramatic night, it is just another stop in their eternal party journey

They left the lawman lyin' and they made their getaway
They left the policeman unconscious and fled the scene of the crime

They got back to the motel just before the break of day
They return to the motel right before dawn

Sonny gave her all the money and he blew her a little kiss
When they got back, Sonny offered Sherry all of the cash and then gave her a small peck on the cheek

If they ask you how this happened say I forced you into this
He instructs her to lie about him coercing her to be involved in this incident if anyone tries to inquire about their activities

She watched him as his taillights disappeared around the bend
Sherry gazed out as his car's taillights disappeared around the curb

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
Their never-ending journey of pleasure and debauchery perpetually continues

Its Main Street after midnight just like it was before
It's a typical midnight on Main Street, just as it had always been

21 months later at the local grocery store
21 months later, at the nearby grocery store

Sherry buys a paper and a cold 6-pack of beer
Sherry purchased a newspaper edition and a cold 6-pack of beer from the store

The headlines read that Sonny is goin' to the chair
The newspapers proclaim that Sonny has been given the death penalty

She pulls back onto Main Street in her new Mercedes Benz
Sherry drives her new Mercedes Benz back onto Main Street

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
Despite the events, her life moves forward in endless celebration and revelry