Page added: 03-13-2002 at 16:45:43
Drive
Alan Jackson


Was painted red, the stripe was white.
Was 18 feet, from the bow to the stern light.
Second hand from a dealer in Atlanta,
I rode up with Daddy, when he went there to get her.
Put on a shine, put on a motor.
Built out of love, and made for the water.
Ran her for years, til' her transum got rotten.
A piece of my childhood, that'll never be forgotten.

It was just an old ply-wood boat,
with a 75 Johnson,
with a 'lectric choke.
A young boy 2 hands on the wheel,
I can't replace the way it made me feel.
And I would turn her sharp, and I would make it wide.
He'd say "You can't beat the way an old wood boat rides."
Just a little lake across the Alabama line.
But I was 'King of the Ocean', when Daddy let me drive.

Just an old half-ton, short bed Ford.
My Uncle bought new in '64.
Daddy got it ridin', 'cause the engine was smokin'.
Couple of burned valves, and he had it goin'.
He'd let me drive her, and we haul off a load.
Down a dirt strip, where we dumped trash off a thick pin road
I'd sit up in the seat, and strech my feet out to the pedals.
Smilin' like a hero that just recived his medal.

It was just an old hand-me-down Ford.
With 3 speed on the column, and a dent in the door.
A young boy 2 hands on the wheel.
I can't replace the way it made me feel.
And I would press that clutch, and I would keep it right.
He'd say "a little slower son your doin' just fine."
Just a dirt road, with trash on each side.
But I was Mario Andretti, when Daddy let me drive.

I'm grown up now, 3 daughters of my own.
I let 'em drive my old jeep.
'Cross a pasture, at our home.
Maybe one day, they'll reach back in their file.
And pull out that old memory, and think of me and smile.
And say:

Was just an old worn out jeep.
Rusty old floor boards,
Hot on my feet.
A young girl 2 hands on the wheel.
I can't replace the way it made me feel.
And he'd say "Turn it left, and steer it right.
Strighten up girl, now your doing just fine."
Just a little vally by the river where we'd ride.
But I was high-on-the-mountain, when..Daddy let me drive.

When Daddy let me drive.
Oh, he let me drive.

Just an old ply-wood boat,
with a 75 Johnson,
with a 'lectric choke.

ImIn2Country2@yahoo.com

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© 2002 Michael T. Brenner Sr.