the last hitchhiker

the last hitchhiker I ever picked up
was too many years ago
he was stuck south of Salinas
on a red dirt country road
he said his name was Henry
he had on him nineteen years
and all he wanted to do, he said,
was get the hell out of here

"I want to see the world," said Henry,
"and you're my very first ride
and I believe I'll do okay, man,
if I've got folks like you by my side"
as for me, I did not answer
'cause all I knew to say
was "Henry, be careful,
the world don't move that way"