Now I'm a poor ol' key and I'm headin' out west
I'm pullin' a long trailer and my car's doin' its best
We hit a long mountain and
she begins to bawl
She blew her head gasket and
it started drippin' oil
The wheels is out of balance,
she shimmies and she shakes
But it keeps the young 'uns
quiet when they're awake
We got her loaded heavy and
her spring's a way down
If I make it to the top,
I'm sure I can go down
The dogs are quit barkin' and the chickens
are quiet I hope I get there by next
Friday night
The highway's open and we're still
a -comin' I'll make it to
California if my car keeps a rollin'
The old lady's hungry and
the young's is too
And I'm worried and broke and I
don't know what to do
So I sent old
Rattler out to see what he could find
He brought back a cottontail
just the neck of time
The kids grabbed a hold of him,
tore him out of his hide
The ride was still kickin'
but we got him fried
The highway's open and
we're still a -tumblin'
My mate's in
California and my car keeps a -runnin'
The old lady's barefoot
and her feet are flat
She's all bent over with a
hump on her back
She's got a red nose and a freckled face
She wears an old smock all
trimmed and laced
When I get to
California, I'll buy her a new dress
And she can cut around
just like the rest
Sideways is open,
we're still a -comin' I'll make it to
California if my car keeps a -runnin'
It's a big, trip,
but I think I'll win I'll get to
California, but I don't know when
I'll grow me some sideburns
and a mustache too
And I'll show those people
what a poor boy can do
The highway's open and we're still
a -comin' I'll make it to
California if my car keeps a -runnin'
When I get to
Hollywood, I'll make a lot of dough
Get me a job on television or on the radio
I'll buy me a
Cadillac, a big shiny top
And I'll take it back home,
and I'll show it to my pop
The highway's open and
we're still a -comin'
In the make of
California, my car keeps a -runnin'