She lived on a curve in the road
In an old tar-paper shack
On the south side of the town
On the wrong side of the tracks

Sometimes on the way into town we'd say
"Mama, can we stop and give her a ride?"
Sometimes we did as she shook her head
And her hands flew from her side
Wild eyed, crazy Mary

Down along the road, past the Parson's place
The old blue car we used to race
Little country store with a sign tacked to the side
Said, "No L O I T E R I N G allowed"
Underneath that sign always congregated quite a crowd

Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around
Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around
Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around

One night thunder cracked mercy backed outside her windowsill
Dreamed I was flying high above the trees, over the hills
Looked down into the house of Mary
Bare bulb blown, newspaper-covered walls
And Mary rising up above it all

Next morning on the way into town
We saw some skid marks, and followed them around
Over the curve, through the fields
Into the house of Mary

That what you fear the most
Could meet you halfway
That what you fear the most
Could meet you halfway

Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around
Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around
Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around

Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around
Around, around, around, around
Where she stops no, no, nobody knows
No, nobody knows, nobody knows
Nobody knows, no, nobody knows