Verse 1: On a greyhound bus, Lord I'm traveling this morning I'm going to Shreveport and on down to New Orleans Been driving these highways, been doing things my way It's been making me lonesome, on'ry and mean
Verse 2: Now her hair was jet black, and her name was Codiene Thought she was the cream of the Basin Street queens She got tired of that smokey whine dream Began to feel lonesome, on'ry and mean
Verse 3: We got together, and we cashed in our sweeps Gave them to a beggar who was mumbling through the streets There's no escaping from his snowy white dreams Born lookin' lonesome, on'ry and mean
Verse 4: Now I'm down in this valley, where the wheels turn so low At dawn I pray, to the Lord of my soul I say do Lord, do right by me I'm tired of being lonesome, on'ry and mean.