On a greyhound bus, Lord I'm traveling this morning I'm going to Shreveport and on down to New Orleans Been driving these highways, Been doing things my way It's been making me lonesome on'ry and mean Now her hair was jet black, And her name was Codene Thought she was the cream of the Basin Street queens She got tired of that smokey whine dream Began to feel lonesome on'ry and mean We got together, and we cashed in our sweeps. Gave 'em to a beggar Who was mumbling through the streets There's no escaping From his snowy white dreams Born lookin' lonesome on'ry and mean Now I'm down in this valley, Where the wheels turn so low At dawn I pray, to the Lord of my soul I say do Lord, do right by me You know I'm tired of being lonesome on'ry and mean