Expert: Mel Priddle - 11/28/2008

Question
These partial lyrics are all I remember: "Detour, there's a muddy road ahead. Detour, paid no mind to what it said. Detour, now my heart strings are made of twine. Should have read that detour sign...." Can you tell me who sang it and from what era? I found a Patti Page version, but I remember it as being sung by a man.

Answer
Hello Martha,

Here's the recording information for that song........

DETOUR
(Written by Paul Westmoreland)

Recorded by:
Spade Cooley & His Orch. (vocal: Tex Williams) - 1946
Wesley Tuttle - 1946
Elton Britt - 1946
Foy Willing & His Riders Of The Purple Sage - 1946
Patti Page - 1951
Ferlin Husky - 1960
Bill Haley & His Comets - 1961
Ramblin' Jack Elliott - 1962
Dean Martin - 1965
Bill Kieth - 1976
Willie Nelson - 1979
Sleepy LaBeef - 1979

Also recorded by:
Tennessee Ernie Ford; The Cornells; Tex Ritter.


Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find
Should have read that detour sign

Headed down life's crooked road
Lots of things I never knowed
Because of me not knowin', I now pine
Trouble got in the trail
Spent the next five years in jail
Should have read that detour sign

Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find,
Should have read that detour sign

When I got right to the place
Where it said "About Face"
I thought that all my worries were behind
But the farther I go
The more sorrow I know
Should have read that detour sign

Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find
Should have read that detour sign

When I got stuck in the mud
All my hopes dropped with a thud
I guess that my heart strings are made of twine
Have no willpower to get
From the hole that I'm in yet
Should have read that detour sign

Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find
Should have read that detour sign
Should have read that detour sign
Should have read that detour sign


Glad to be of help. Cheers.......Mel.