Way Out There
by Bob Nolan
"This was my very
first tune. There was something about the lure of the
road and the knights of the road that prompted me to
join them. For approximately four years, my young life
was spent in riding the rails and enjoying the 'romance
of the Road.' I traveled everywhere in this country,
moving along on a capricious thought . I actually
composed 'Way Out There' when I was enjoying the freedom
of boyhood travel." —Bob Nolan
Way Out There
A lonely spot I know where no man will go
Where the shadows have all the room
I was ridin' free on the old SP
Softly humming a southern tune
When a man came along, made me hush my song
Kicked me off away out there.
As she pulled out of sight, I turned to my right
The left and everywhere
But all I could see was a cactus tree
And a prairie dog playing there
Saw the prairie dog feed on the tumbling weed
That's his home away out there.
So I threw down my load in the desert road
And rested my weary legs
Watched the sinking sun make the tall shadows run
Out across the barren plain
Then I hummed a tune to the rising moon
He gets lonesome 'way out there.
And then I closed my eyes to the starlit skies
And I lost myself in dreams
Dreamt the desert sand was a milk-and-honey land
Then I woke up with a start
There's a train coming back on that one-way track
Gonna take me 'way from here.
As she saw passing by, caught her on the fly
I climbed in an open door
Then I turned around to that desert ground
Saw the spot I will see no more
And as I rode away, heard the pale moon say
"Farewell, pal, it gets lonesome here."
