Lonely Stretch

David McComb

Appears On:

This is a live cover of a song by The Triffids, written by David McComb, from their 1986 album Born Sandy Devotional.

Lyrics (unofficial)

[added Sept. 2, 2013]

I took a wrong turn off an unmarked track
I did seven miles, I couldn't find my way back
I hit a lonely stretch, must be losing my touch
I was out of my depth

The land was so flat, well could have been ocean
No distinguishing features in any direction
I took her down inch-by-inch to the floor
Pointed her nose through a nick in the door
Fingering my silver St. Christopher
Saving my empty shells for her

When night closed in up around my neck
The high beam dug deep into the black
And a shiver rose up up and down my back
Yes a shiver rose up up and down my back

And I could have been mistaken
But I could swear that I saw something in the headlight
On that cold night
Not with another living thing in sight
And not another living thing in sight
I said another living thing in sight

I said sha la, la la la la la
Sha la, la la la la la
Sha la la la
I hit a lonely stretch

Baby I was wrong, I was wrong from the start
You could die out here from a broken heart
We were two wrongs, we were married at birth
And together we made up a flaming ugly bird

And I pumped it and I moved on up into third
I could have sworn I saw you there on the verge
Never should have let you out of my sight
I never should have let your precious spirit escape
When I sing to myself
Yes I sing to myself

I was wrong, I was wrong from the start
You could die out here from a broken heart
We were two wrongs, we were married at birth
And together we made up a flaming ugly bird

Now my memory's shot, I've got a bad technique
Could be driving in circles till the end of the week
My vision is strong, my vision is true
Look out now, I'll be so good for you

Now there's a spot on the map, it's just a tiny dot
That's where my sweetie live, you know it means a lot
I think of her sitting in the afternoon sun
Sitting, drinking, having fun

I took a wrong turn
I took a wrong turn
I took a wrong turn
I hit a lonely stretch, whoo!
I took a wrong turn off an unmarked track
I couldn't find my (wrong turn), couldn't find my way back
I took a wrong turn
I hit a lonely lo... lonely stretch, whoo!

Rock my soul (wrong turn), the bosom of Abraham
Rock my soul (wrong turn), the bosom of Abraham
Rock my soul (wrong turn), the bosom of Abraham
Wo, Jericho, wo-ho

Wrong turn off an unmarked track
I didn't find my (wrong turn), find my way back
I took a wrong turn
I hit a lonely stretch, lonely, lonely s....


The Triffids Original Version

I took a wrong turn off of an unmarked track
I did seven miles, I couldn't find my way back
Hit a lonely stretch, must be losing my touch
I was out of my depth

Land was so flat, could well have been ocean
No distinguishing features in any direction
I took her down inch-by-inch to the floor
And I pointed her nose through a crack in the door
Fingering my silver St. Christopher
And saving my empty shells for her

When night closed in up around my neck
My high beam dug deep into the black
And a shiver broke out up and down my back
Yes a shiver broke out up and down my back

I could have been mistaken
But I could swear that I caught something in my headlights
On that cold morning, on that cold night
Without another living thing in sight
Without another living thing in sight

I sing sha la, sha la la la
Sha la, sha la la la
Sha la

I hit a lonely stretch, lonely stretch, whooo
Baby I was wrong, I was wrong from the start
You could die out here from a broken heart
We were two wrongs, we were married at birth
And together make up an ugly flaming bird

We pumped it and then moved up into third
Could have sworn you were shining right there on the verge
I never should have let you out of my sight
I never should have let precious spirit escape
And I sing to myself
Yes I sing to myself (whooo)

I was wrong (wrong turn), I was wrong from the start
You could die out here (wrong turn) from a broken heart
We were two wrongs (wrong turn), we were married at birth
And together make up (wrong turn) an ugly flaming bird

Now my memory's shot (wrong turn), I've got a bad technique
Could be driving in circles (wrong turn) till the end of the week
My vision is strong, my vision is true
Look out now, I'll be so good for you

Well there's a spot on a map (wrong turn), its just a tiny dot
That's where my sweetie lives (wrong turn), you know that means a lot
I think of her sitting (wrong turn) in the afternoon sun
Sitting and drinking (wrong turn) and having fun
(Wrong turn, wrong turn)

I took a wrong turn
I took a wrong turn
I took a wrong turn
I hit a lonely stretch, lonely stretch
I took a wrong turn from an unmarked track
I took a wrong turn, I couldn't find my way back
I took a wrong turn
I hit a lonely lo... lonely lonely lo...

Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Rock my soul to the bosom of Abraham
Wo, Jericho, wo-ho

So high can't get over it
So low can't get under it
So wide can't get around it
Wo, Jericho
I took a wrong turn