The 1959 Jimmie Rodgers song is a favorite of mine because my family used to take vacations from Colorado to Texas and we passed through Tucumcari, New Mexico on our car trips in the late 50s and 60s. On one occassion we were not far from Tucumcari when the song was playing on the car radio from the distant 50,000 watt KOMA radio station in Oklahoma City.

From Leo's Lyrics:

Tucumcari
Jimmie Rodgers Roulette R-4191
(Olofson-McIntyre) Mappa Mus. Corp. ASCAP



Twelve more miles to Tucumcari
I've been hurrying there
To the gal I'm gonna marry
With the yellowest hair

{Left right march along
I've just gotta get home} (just gotta get home)
Ten more miles to Tucumcari
Then I'll never more roam
(Tucumcari, Tucumcari, I just gotta get home)

Eight more miles to Tucumcari
It's the fourth of July
Been three years in January
Since I kissed her goodbye

{Left right march along
I've just gotta get home} (just gotta get home)
Six more miles to Tucumcari
Then I'll never more roam
(Tucumcari, Tucumcari, I just gotta get home)

Four more miles to Tucumcari
Not much further to go
Got no time to waste or tarry
She'll be waitin' I know

{Left right march along
I've just gotta get home} (just gotta get home)
Two more miles to Tucumcari
Then I'll never more roam
(Tucumcari, Tucumcari, I just gotta get home)

Here I am in Tucumcari
Found my yellow-haired gal
Just in time to see her marry
With my very best pal

{Left right march along
Guess I better be gone} (I better be gone)
A thousand miles from Tucumcari
I'll be rambling on
(Tucumcari, Tucumcari, I'll be rambling on)

A hundred miles from Tucumcari
Down in Santa Fe
Fell in love with a girl named Mary
Gee I'm happy today