My grandaddy was a miner, but he finally saw the light

He didn't have much, just a beat-up truck and a dream about a better life

Grandmama cried when she waved goodbye, never heard such a lonesome sound

Pretty soon the dirt road turned into blacktop, Detroit City bound

Down that hillbilly highway

That hillbilly highway

Hillbilly highway

Goes on and on



He worked and saved his money so that one day he might send

My old man off to college, to use his brains and not his hands

Grandmama cried when she waved goodbye, never heard such a lonesome sound

But daddy had himself a good job in Houston, one more rollin' down



Down that hillbilly highway

That hillbilly highway

Hillbilly highway

Goes on and on



Grandaddy rolled over in his grave the day that I quit school

I just sat around the house playin' my guitar, Daddy said I was a fool

My mama cried when I said goodbye, I never heard such a lonesome sound

Now I'm standin' on this highway and if you're going my way

You know where I'm bound