The Drunken Driver
Written by Paul Westmoreland
Recorded by Ricky Skaggs

(Capo on 1)

Intro.:  (Em)  x 8

Now (Em)listen, you, drunken driver while here on (Am)earth you (Em)dwell
You (Am)never know when the (Em)time to come when you'll (B7)have to say fare-(Em)well

I (Em)saw an accident (Am)one (Em)day, would charm the (Am)hearts of (Em)man
And (Am)teach him never to (Em)drink and drive with a (B7)steerin' wheel in his (Em)hand

This (Em)awful accident occurred on the twentieth (Am)day of (Em)May
And (Am)caused to lovin' (Em)children to (B7)sleep beneath the (Em)clay

These (Em)two dear kids walked side by side out on a (Am)state high-(Em)way
Their (Am)lovin' mother, (Em)she had died and their (B7)father had run a-(Em)way

They were (Em)talking of their loving parents, how sad their (Am)hearts did (Em)feel
When a-(Am)round the curve came a (Em)speedin' car with a (B7)drunk man at the (Em)wheel

The (Em)driver saw these two dear kids and hooted a (Am)drunkard (Em)sound
“Get (Am)out of the road, you, (Em)little fools” and the (B7)car had brought them (Em)down

Inst.:  (Am)   (Em)   (B7)   (Em)

The (Em)driver staggered from his car to see what (Am)he had (Em)done
His (Am)heart sank with-(Em)in him when he (B7)saw his dyin' (Em)son

(Em)He then picked up his little one and carried him (Am)to his (Em)car
Then (Am)leanin' on the (Em)runnin' board, he (B7)prayed a drunkard's (Em)prayer

Sayin', (Em)“Please, oh Lord, forgive me for this awful (Am)crime I've (Em)done”
His at-(Am)tention then was (Em)called away to the (B7)words of his dyin' (Em)son

Sayin' (Em)“Take us to our mother, Dad. She sleeps be-(Am)neath the (Em)ground
It was (Am)you and her we was (Em)talkin' about when the (B7)car had knocked us (Em)down”

“And (Em)please, dear Dad, don't drink no more while drivin' (Am)on your (Em)way
But (Am)meet us with our (Em)mother, Dad, in (B7)heaven some sweet day” (Em)