Harley D. (the real king of the road)
© Gary Orphey
(Intro Spoken)
Harley D. was a trucker—the real king of the road
Of all the stories that I know—this one must be told
(V 1)
A trucker’s life is just as hard—as the ribbon of concrete he rides
Through sleet and snow and desert heat—the white line is his bride
The knights of the road they call ‘em—they’re a tough and loyal breed
If you’re ever in trouble—they’re there in word and deed.
(V 2)
Harley pulled out of Memphis on cold winter night—doing the thing he loved the most
Driving his big black Kenworth—slicing through the night like a ghost
A car in front of him hit some ice—spun and went into a lake
He stopped his rig with a jack-knife on ice— his foot leaning hard on the brake
(Chorus)
There are thousands of men who drive those rigs and haul those heavy loads
But the one I knew as Harley D. was the real King of the Road.
(V 3)
Harley dove into that water—that was as cold as a dead mans grave
One by one he saved the people—I’ve never seen a man so brave
The little girl he saved was crying—she was missing her dog named Jake
Harley had lost a daughter of his own so he dove back into the lake
(Bridge)
He brought the dog to the surface—pushed to the edge of the shore
But Harley never made it—his heart couldn’t take anymore
(Outro)
I believe that out there somewhere—on a gold highway running fast and free
Is the man who saved my wife and child —His name was Harley D.
There are thousands of men who drive those rigs and haul those heavy loads
But the one I knew as Harley D. was the real King of the Road.