Track 10 of the album Diesel Hymns · 2008
Tailgate Down in Tucumcari
“Dropped the tailgate in Tucumcari and watched the neon come on, and I knew I had my closer. It's the slow hymn I still end the show with.”
rock ballad · hymn rock · americana · 4:04
Lyrics
Dropped the tailgate down in Tucumcari Watched the neon wake up one by one Got a cooler and a paper map I don't need And nowhere that I have to be by sun Old boy at the pump said, where you headed I said, mister, I'm just taking the air He laughed and passed me half a roadside peach pie Said that's the finest place to be, right there So let the tailgate down, let the evening roll in Let the engine tick and cool I spent forty years in a hurry to arrive And the road was the thing all along, you fool Let the tailgate down, let the red sky burn Let the highway hum me home I've got a thermos and a song on the radio And I'm finally good alone Used to count the miles like they owed me Used to curse the hours I lost Now I count the trains and the bats at twilight And I never once ask what it cost So let the tailgate down, let the evening roll in Let the engine tick and cool I spent forty years in a hurry to arrive And the road was the thing all along, you fool Let the tailgate down, let the red sky burn Let the highway hum me home I've got a thermos and a song on the radio And I'm finally good alone Somewhere a motel sign is buzzing Somewhere a kid is learning how to drive And I'm sitting here with my boots hanging over Feeling every bit of me alive So let the tailgate down, let the evening roll in Let the engine tick and cool I spent forty years in a hurry to arrive And the road was the thing all along, you fool Let the tailgate down, let the red sky burn Let the highway hum me home I've got a thermos and a song on the radio And I'm finally good alone Let the tailgate down Let the tailgate down