When I was driving truck long line I often went to Los Angeles, Ca., also known as,"Shakey Town," for it's propensity toward earthquakes. On occassion I wound up in a bar, crying the blues. This song came to me while I was sitting in a bar on one of those occassions. I wrote it on a napkin. For non-truckers information, 'sail boat fuel' is air! (an empty trailer)


Lost In Shakey Town

Sittin' in a bar in L A City, wondering why I'm here,
'stead of out on the highway makin' some money
Double clutchin' and swappin' those gears.

I got me a load of that sailboat fuel
And I had to shut 'er down.-
Well I'm a long haul driver with nothing to do
But get lost in Shakey Town.

It's been a month since I've seen my baby,
Guess I'm on the prowl,
Lookin' for a girl to spend some time with,-
Gettin' ready to howl.

But the moon ain't as bright in this big, big city
Without my baby around.
Yeah, I'm a big rig driver with nothing to do
Gettin' lost in Shakey Town.

Tag:

The nights are forty hours long,
The sun has just gone down;
I'm a lonesome truck driver with nothin' to do
But get lost in Shakey Town!

Yeah, I'm lost in Shakey Town.

Jim Alexander July, 1981 LA, Ca

This is a personal message to all real Truck Drivers! They'll understand! All of you who wish to be a truck driver, pay attention!


Hey, There, Mister Truckdriver

Hey there Mister Truckdriver, Where you going today,
What you gonna haul in your great big truck,
Are you gonna have a place to lay?
Hey there Mister Truckdriver, when are you gonna leave?
What will you do if your tire blows out?
What's this truck drivin' all about?
You're starting up your truck,
'Bout all you got is luck.

Hey there Mister Truckdriver, Where'd you leave your wife?
You left your wife back on the farm,
Keeping some other cowboy warm,-
Hey there Mister Truckdriver, Is it really worth it all?
While you're out drivin' that great big truck,
Your family is home just a'havin' a ball;

Startin' up your truck, 'bout all you got is luck.
While you're grinding on those gears
What's happening to your years?
Tag:
Hey there Mister Truckdriver,... Mister Truckdriver,
While you're grinding on those gears,
What's happening to all your years?

1980...Modesto. Ca.

People do many different things to make a living! Some we understand and accept; some we don't quite understand and we question. Don't forget, before you condemn, "Walk a mile in my shoes."


The Hooker

You'll see her standing on the street hoping a gentle man she'll meet
To earn a dollar or two - Don't laugh - It could be you.
She'll shake your door when it gets late and say, "Hey, Trucker, do you want a date?
A good time is what you'll find - Or we'll just talk - If you don't mind."

Chorus:
Somebody loved her once, Some Mother held her close to her breast!
Somebody loved her once, She knew some Father's tender carress.
She was somebody's precious baby - I know you think she's bad but maybe,
Somebody loved her once - Somebody loved her.

Don't be too hard on someone you don't know, Just tell her gently if you want her to go
On down the road a ways - Don't look too closely - Into her face.
I know it's hard when you look at her now To see a sweet young thing, and how
She ever could have been - Somebody's Baby!

Rpt. Chorus
10/27/81...Ontario, Ca.

Tag Axle and California Bedbug...........

Truckin'...Swappin' Gears..Rollin' on!.............

Eighteen Wheels goin' down the road...The California Bedbug and Tag Axle...This Jimmy and us traveled on every interstate, North and South...East and West!!...Rollin' On...


Eighteen Wheels
Chorus:
Eighteen Wheels a'rollin' down the highway,
Eighteen Wheels a'movin' down the road.-
Those eighteen wheels are underneath
this diesel truck of mine!
This diesel truck of mine can haul a mighty heavy load!

I left my baby waitin' at the station,
Standin' on the loadin' dock, a'wavin' me goodbye,-
I said, I should be gone a week or maybe two at most.-
Don't let me come back home and find you
With some other guy.

Rpt. Chorus

Well, the first week came and went as I expected,
Then Spring turned into Summer
and the Summer into fall!
When I got back I didn't find her with some other guy -
When I got back I didn't find my
baby there at all!

The note she left me told me that she loved me -
The note she left me wished me
all the best and lots of luck!-
But it said, Please don't try to find me - It
never could work out
'Cause you don't love me half as much
As you love that diesel truck!

Rpt. Chorus
1980...Modesto, Ca.

Stories of Unrequited Loves