should've stayed home

Driving along some back roads one morning, taking a can of petrol to a friend whose car had run out, I passed a village sign which had the spray-painted addition "welcome to hell".

Well, I ran out of fuel on the back road to Hell;
I didn’t know it then, but I was doing quite well;
I’d driven all day and I was driving all night;
I soon got the feeling things weren’t quite right.

I hitched a lift in a pickup truck;
the man behind the wheel said I was in luck;
he dropped me at the corner of Nowhere and Main;
as he pulled away it began to rain.

Should’ve stayed home; should’ve stayed home;
should have known; should’ve stayed home.

I walked into the bar and I ordered a beer;
the waiter said “you’re not welcome here”;
I asked him how I’d caused offence;
he said “it’s just you’re a bad influence”.

Should’ve stayed home; should’ve stayed home;
should have known; should’ve stayed home.

As I stepped outside; the rain turned to sleet;
I thought I’d better find a place to sleep;
the light on the motel said “no vacancy”;
I figured this wasn’t a good place to be.

Should’ve stayed home; should’ve stayed home;
should have known; should’ve stayed home.

Zipped up my coat and pulled down my hat;
walked along the alley, passed a black cat;
found a dry spot by the garbage cans,
laid my head down and dreamed.

First thing in the morning as the sun arose;
I tried to stand up but my feet had froze;
I called for help but no-one came;
don’t think I’ll visit here again.

Should’ve stayed home; should’ve stayed home;
should have known; should’ve stayed home.
Should’ve stayed home; should’ve stayed home;
should have known; should’ve stayed home.

(©2003 Stewart Bowman)