3rd Place | “The Long Haul”

“THE LONG HAUL”
WRITTEN BY EFFRON WHITE
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
WWW.AMERICANSONGSPACE.COM/EFFRONWHITE

He pulls into Waco on Saturday night
Finds a little bar and parks his big rig out back
Buys a shot of whiskey and a cold Fat Tire
It’s been a long haul

He engages the bartender in big small talk
How he learned to shift gears before he learned how to walk
He shakes a cigarette from a crumpled Camel pack
It dangles from his lip as he strikes his last match
Then he takes a long draw as his eyelids fall
And the smoke ring he blows floats toward the back wall

CHORUS:

It’s been a long haul
Long haul

He says his whole life has been like that smoke ring
Slowly drifting down and disintegrating
His ex took the baby when he was home on a binge
They’re somewhere up north he ain’t seen ‘em since then
Got a letter from that thirty-year-old kid the other day
Said she googled him up she’d like to meet him someday

He drops an ash in his empty shot glass
Like one of many bridges he burned in his past
Shoulda quit the cancer sticks a long time ago
But it’s too late now they’ve taken their toll
Might live six months if I’m lucky I guess
Doc says I’d better wrap up all my business

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE

I’ve been on the road now since I was eighteen
Nicotined and caffeined and dropping Visine
I’m 54 now and I can’t stand to see
Where three-million miles has finally brought me

REPEAT CHORUS

INTRUMENTAL BREAK

He grinds his cigarette butt in the bottom of the glass
Drinks up his beer and says I better get off my ass
I’ve got someone to meet that I’d like to get to know
Hey, Buddy…Got a match?…I’m headin’ up that road

REPEAT CHORUS

… I’ve got a long haul
Long haul