Up Near Arkansas


I was drivin up near Arkansas
With a tune in my head
And a wheel for a drum
It was one of those nights
That you crave during fall
When it happened without warning
Like it was nothing at all.
It was kind of strange,
I'd seen the moon had gone red
You hear what I said?
Yeah, the mood had turned red.

Now I'd read in books
And I'd heard from stories
When the moon goes red
You'd better stray ahead
It means you're luck'd run out
When you travel abroad
Did I say abroad?
I meant Arkansas.

I was drivin up near Arkansas
When I looked in my mirror
And guess who I saw
It was the fuzz, the heat, the boys in blue
They've got a pocket full of tickets and nothing to do.
With their lights flashing and their sirens wailing
I pulled over quick, despite my brakes were failing
I Waited patiently with my wheel for a drum
Turned my head towards the sky
Cursed that moon, because I was done.

That blue coat strolled up beside me there
With a nicely trimmed mustache, like somebody cared
I said"Officer, why you lookin so frightenin?
He said "Quiet down boy, just gimme your license, I'll be back in a sec, after I run your information."
And with that said, I began my hesitation,
Oh no!

"Sir, I'm gonna need you to step out of your car,
you can try and run, but you wont get far,
Seems you've been at large for a little too long
And I feel it's my duty to put you up where
You belong.
If you could step right here so I can see you in the light
I'm gonna give you this paper, so you can sign
Away your rights.
It'd be in your interest if you came without a sound
'Cause since you signed away your rights,
I'd be obliged to put you down."

We got to that jail house so damn fast
I was kind of starting to regret my past
"Number 5 go ahead and step into your cell."
"Sure thing officer, but what is that smell?"
I got shoved into my 8x10 with two other men
Who weren't looking for friends
The looks on their faces said I'd better not squeal
So I made no effort when one stole my meal.

As he sat there staring and eating my bread,
I saw the marks on his face, and the dent in his head
I said "You've had a rough night, as far as I can see."
"2 rough nights, and I'm about to make it 3."
He stood up tall and started approaching me
His lips curled back, showing his missing teeth
I was a good as dead if I didn't act fast
So when he threw his first left
I threw a right and tried to dash.

Guards rushed in to regain some order
I saw him grab one and stomp him in the corner
Taking my cue I tagged the other in blue
Caught him right between the eyes
What was a guy supposed to do?
Jail breaking never felt so right
Until I saw that moon turn red that night.
But the next I travel abroad
I'm going to avoid the hell out of Arkansas