The song for today is by Gene Pitney and is called 24 Hours From Tulsa, about a douchebag who is driving back to his sweetheart, makes a pit stop when he’s not that far from home … and decides he’s not going to come back to his sweetheart after all. Why? Because he’s suddenly fallen head over heels in love with someone else. Like I said, a complete douchebag.

But oh, I love the emotion in his voice, and it’s a song I love to sing.

Dearest darlin’,
I had to write to say that I won’t be home anymore
‘Cause something happened to me
While I was driving home and I’m not the same anymore

Oh, I was only 24 hours from Tulsa
Ah, only
One day away from your arms
I saw a welcoming light and stopped to rest for the night

And that is when I saw her
As I pulled in outside of a small motel
She was there
And so I walked up to her
Asked where I could get something to eat and she showed me where

Oh, I was only 24 hours from Tulsa
Ah, only
One day away from your arms
She took me to a cafe I asked her if she would stay
She said okay

Oh, I was only 24 hours from Tulsa
Ah only
One day away from your arms

The jukebox started to play
And nightime turned into day
As we were dancing, closely
All of a sudden I lost control as I held her charms
And I caressed her, kissed her
Told her I’d die before I would let her out of my arms

Oh, I was only 24 hours from Tulsa
Ah, only
One day away from your arms
I hate to do this to you
But I love somebody new
What can I do?

And I can never, never, never
Go home again

(Music and lyrics by Hal David and Burt Bacharach)