It was just after dark when the truck started down
The hill that leads into Scranton Pennsylvania.
Carrying thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Carrying thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
LINK: E E* E E*
He was a young driver,
A*
And he was carrying the next day's pasty fruits
For everyone in that coal-scarred city,
Where children play without despair
A* E
About thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes, just about thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
TEMPO INCREASE
He passed a sign that he should have seen,
saying, "Shift to low gear or fifty dollar fine, my friend."
He was thinking perhaps about the warm-breathed woman
Who was waiting at the journey's end.
He started down the two-mile drop,
The curving road that wound from the top of the hill.
He was pushing on through the shortening miles that ran down to the depot.
Just a few more miles to go,
Then he'd go home and have her ease his long, cramped day away.
And the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
D D/C# Bm (Slide CAPO 2nd FRET)
He was picking speed as the city spread its twinkling lights below him.
But he paid no heed as the shivering thoughts of the night's
Delights went through him.
E (strum) E (strum)
He said, "Christ!"
It was funny how he had named the only man who could save him now.
He was trapped inside a dead-end hellslide,
Riding on his fear-hunched back
I'm telling you, thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
D D/C# Bm (Slide CAPO 3rd FRET)
He barely made the sweeping curve that led into the steepest grade.
And he missed the thankful passing bus at ninety miles an hour.
And he said, "God, make it a dream!"
As he rode his last ride down.
And he said, "God, make it a dream!"
As he rode his last ride down.
And he sideswiped nineteen neat parked cars,
Clipped off thirteen telephone poles,
Hit two houses, bruised eight trees,
And Blue-Crossed seven people.
It was then he lost his head,
Not to mention an arm or two before he stopped.
N.C.
All those thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
ORIGINAL TEMPO
As it went up the hill out of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
He shrugged his shoulders, he shook his head,
A N.C.
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of mashed bananas.
Of bananas. (Repeat with Barred F, then F#, etc. until fade out.)