Al Kooper Nightmare #5 lyrics

I was sixteen years of age when I fled my family's house
And I hitchhiked down the highway tryin' to make my way down south
It was in the dead of winter and it chilled me to the bone
But I was sixteen years of age just tryin' to get a message home

It was cold and it was windy and I was two days in my flight
And my shoes were almost wore through and the day was almost night
When the only car I saw that day came rollin' into view
I just ran onto the highway for to see what I could do

I waved my arms and hollered and the car it did slow down
And I asked the man inside to help me for to get to the very next town
He nodded yes and I jumped inside, I was thankful, safe and warm
But the stranger kept his eyes ahead and drove straight into the storm


I guess I musta fell asleep but I couldn't tell how long
When I woke up in a hurry with the feel of something wrong
The stranger was still driving and he did not say a word
And I asked him many questions but he seemed not to have heard

Then fear began to grab me and I reached out for the door
When I almost had it open, well, the car began to soar
As it angled towards the heavens I just tried to catch my breath
For it was then I knew what time it was and the stranger's name was Death