Al Kooper - Nightmare #5 lyrics

Kooper

I was sixteen years of age when
I fled my family’s house
And I hitchhiked down the highway
Tryin’ to make my way down South
It was in the dead of winter and
It chilled me to the bone
But, I was sixteen years of age
Just tryin to get a message home

It was cold & It was windy &
I was two days in my flight
And my shoes were almost wore through
And the day was almost night
When the only car I saw that
Day came rollin into view
I just ran onto the highway for
To see what I could do

I waved my arms & hollered and
The car it did slow down
And I asked the man inside to help me
For to get to the very next town
He nodded yes & I jumped inside
I was thankful, safe & warm
But the stranger kept his eyes ahead
And drove straight into the storm

I guess I musta fell asleep but
I couldn't tell how long
When I woke up in a hurry
With the feel of something wrong
The stranger was still driving and he
Did not say a word
And I asked him many questions
But he seemed not to have heard

Then fear began to grab me &
I reached out for the door
When I almost had it open
Well, the car began to soar
As it angled towards the heavens
I just tried to catch my breath
For it was then I knew what time it was
And the stranger’s name was Death