Tennessee Night

By Corey Dolgon

Louise was a waitress at the Big Boy off the Interstate

she poured coffee with a smile and she closed up the place

And she’d glide down the aisle with the grace of Sunday morning

and that far away look on her face

Well the rain it fell hard and the fog fell heavy

as she shuffled cross the gravel to her blue Chevrolet

she turned the key gently and the engine turned over

and she pulled off and out on her way.

Dreamin’ it comes natural,

but naturally dreams disappear

with the moon and the sun

as they roll through the Tennessee night.

She turned into Jimmy’s Route 60 Tavern,

as she opened the door the band struck up some blues.

And she ordered a bourbon with a Miller Lite chaser,

sat down and kicked off her shoes

Jimmy sat down beside her and said, “Hey, Lou, how’s it goin’?”

He poured another round and he gave her a light.

She smiled in his direction but her eyes just kept goin

past his shoulder out the window to the Tennessee night.

Dreamin’ it comes natural,

but naturally dreams disappear

with the moon and the sun

as they roll through the Tennessee night.

The sound and the smoke and the two-step floated through the air of the bar,

Unwinding, unsteady ‘cross the dance floor led only by the beat of the heart of the Tennessee night

The band finished playing and they said, “Thank y’all for comin’”

and they packed up their guitars and loaded the van.

Jimmy drank down his whiskey and picked up some empties

and walked towards the back with the trash in his hand.

And Louise put her shoes and walked towards the door,

 Jimmy yelled from the bar, “Hey Lou, dropped your keys.” 

And they both reached down softly, their hands touched on the floor,

they looked at each other both bent on their knees.

Dreamin’ it comes natural,

but naturally dreams disappear

with the moon and the sun

as they roll through the Tennessee night.