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Alligator Alley Lyrics by Jim Lauderdale

Patchwork River

2010

[Verse 1]
Car broke down in Alligator Alley
Trying to run away from Broward County
Smoke in the sky, there's no returning
Thirty thousand acres of Everglade burning
Southern Florida dry as tinder
Lightning turned the swamp to cinder
Standing by the roadside, thumb in the air
Brushing the ashes out of my hair
[Chorus 1]
Alligator Alley, Alligator Alley
No time to sit and dally
Everglades burning, Everglades burn
Once it's gone there's no return
[Verse 2]
Get picked up by a girl named Alice
Says she's driving clear to Dallas
With one last nod at the blazing trees
I say drop me off in Nashville please
She says what about your automobile
I say leave it for someone to steal
It don't really run so hot
The rods are gone and the brakes are shot
[Chorus 1]
Alligator Alley, Alligator Alley
No time to sit and dally
Everglades burning, Everglades burn
Once it's gone, there's no return
[Verse 3]
She said you look like Elvis Presley
I said I know it tends to stress me
Gives rise to undue expectations
And other such-like aggravations
Farewell alligators, snakes, and spiders
Florida panthers and big black bears
Girls named Alice, Lorna, and Sally
Goodbye Florida and Alligator Alley
[Chorus 1]
Alligator Alley, Alligator Alley
No time to sit and dally
Everglades burning, Everglades burn
Once it's gone, there's no return
[Chorus 2]
Alligator Alley, Alligator Alley
No time to sit and dally
Everglades burning, Everglades burn
Once it's gone, there's no return
Once it's gone, there's no return
Once it's gone, there's no return
Credits
Jim Lauderdale

Jim Lauderdale

About “Alligator Alley” by Jim Lauderdale

Read the complete lyrics to "Alligator Alley" by Jim Lauderdale from the album "Patchwork River" in 2010. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Alligator Alley" is performed by Jim Lauderdale. from the album "Patchwork River" in 2010 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Alligator Alley", explore more songs by Jim Lauderdale using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Alligator Alley" is credited to Jim Lauderdale. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Alligator Alley" appears on "Patchwork River" in 2010.

Visit the Jim Lauderdale artist page at /artist/jim-lauderdale for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.