The Ballad of Thunder Road
Robert Mitchum Lyrics

Let me tell the story, I can tell it all;
I have a story to tell, and I know it inside and out.

About the mountain boy who ran illegal alcohol.
This is the story of a young man who transported illegal alcohol.

His daddy made the whiskey, the son he drove the load;
The young man's father was responsible for creating the alcohol, while the young man was responsible for moving it.

And when his engine roared they called the highway 'Thunder Road'.
The young man's reckless driving earned the highway a nickname.

Sometimes into Ashville, sometimes Memphis town.
The young man transported the alcohol to different cities.

The Revenuers chased him but they couldn't run him down.
Despite the law enforcement's best efforts, they could not catch the young man.

Each time they thought they had him his engine would explode.
The young man's car would often malfunction, but he always managed to escape.

He'd go by like they were standing still on 'Thunder Road'.
The young man was so skilled at driving that he left the law enforcement officers in the dust.

And there was thunder, thunder over 'Thunder Road',
The young man's car was so loud that it seemed like a thunderstorm was approaching.

Thunder was his engine and white lightening was his load.
The young man's car was powered by roaring noise, and he transported white lightning (alcohol).

And there was moonshine, moonshine to quench the devil's thirst.
The alcohol the young man transported was strong enough to satisfy even the devil's desires.

The law they swore they'd get him but the devil got him first.
Despite the law enforcement's promise to catch the young man, he ultimately met his demise.

It was on the first of April, Nineteen-Fifty-Four
The young man's last run occurred on April 1st, 1954.

The federal man sent word he'd better make his run no more.
The federal agents warned the young man to stop transporting illegal alcohol.

He said '200 agents were covering the state;
The federal agents' warning included a description of how closely they were watching the young man's actions.

Which ever road he tried to take they'd get him sure as fate.'
No matter which road the young man chose, the authorities promised they would catch him.

'Son' his daddy told him, 'make this run your last.
Even the young man's father recognized the danger he was facing and advised him to stop transporting alcohol.

The tank is filled with 100 proof; you're all tuned-up and gassed.
The young man's car was filled with potent alcohol, and his engine was in peak condition.

Now don't take any chances, if you can't get through.
The young man's father urged him to make a wise decision and avoid risking his life.

I'd rather have you back again than all that Mountain Dew.'
The young man's father prioritized his safety over the illegal alcohol.

Roaring out of Harlan; revving up his mill.
Despite his father's advice, the young man chose to make one final run.

He shot the Gap at Cumberland and streamed by Maynardville.
The young man drove quickly through various cities and towns.

With G men on his tail light; road block up ahead,
The young man was being pursued by federal agents, and he came across a roadblock ahead.

The mountain boy took roads that even angels fear to tread.
The young man chose to take treacherous, dangerous roads.

Blazing right through Knoxville, out on Kingston Pike,
The young man drove rapidly through Knoxville along Kingston Pike.

Then right outside of Bearden, they made the fatal strike.
However, he ultimately crashed his car outside of Bearden and was unable to escape.

He left the road at 90; that's all there is to say,
The young man was driving at an extremely high speed when he crashed.

The devil got the moonshine and the mountain boy that day.
In the end, the young man's choices led him to his death, and the illegal alcohol he was transporting was lost.

And there was thunder, thunder over 'Thunder Road',
Even in the final moments of his life, the young man's car was as loud as thunder.

Thunder was his engine and white lightening was his load.
His car was still powered by loud noise, and he still had alcohol in his car.

And there was moonshine, moonshine to quench the devil's thirst.
The young man transported alcohol that was potent enough to satisfy even the devil's desires.

The law they never got him 'cause the devil got him first.
While the law may have been closing in, the young man ultimately met his demise as a result of his choices.