Thunder and Lightnin’

Let me tell the story, so at least you know it all,
About a mountain boy from Cosby, famed for runnin’ alcohol,
Roaring the red dirt backwood tracks we called “Thunder Road,”
Pappaw made the shine from creeks, and Jimmy ran the law,

Sometimes from up in Harlan, down to Scruffy Town,
The revenuers raced him always, but never run him down,
Just when they thought they’d caught him, his engine would explode,
Leave ‘em like they were standing still behind on red dirt “Thunder Road,”

Just as Sun was risin’, a hundred agents laid in wait,
His trunk filled with 100 proof, tires spinnin’ just as fast,
Thunder was his engine, and white lightnin’ was his load,
White lightnin’ crashed in the sky and thunder was his fate.

Roaring from Haze the holler, he screamed for Maynardville,
With lawmen on his taillights, and roadblocks up ahead,
Blazing into Scruffy Town, agents in pursuit,
He left the road at 90, that’s all that’s left to say,

Just as Sun was risin’, a hundred agents laid in wait,
His trunk filled with 100 proof, tires spinnin’ just as fast,
Thunder was his engine, and white lightnin’ was his load,
White lightnin’ crashed in the sky and thunder was his fate.