The song Holiday by James McMurtry tells the story of a family road trip during the holidays. The in-laws are waiting and the games have just begun. While driving on the old super slab, the cell phone keeps ringing, but the driver is advised not to answer it. The whole trip seems to be arranged just to aggravate the father in the car. The kids are strapped safely in car seats, but they are fussy and griping. The driver sympathizes with them, understanding that counting crosses off down in the ditch must be a scary and unnerving experience. The crosses mark the spots where accidents have happened on the dangerous road. As they continue on their trip, they see flowers, wreaths, and painted names marking the spots of previous accidents. It's a somber reminder of the danger they are facing on the road. They see a three-trailer rig throwing up spray, which is not legal to run on such a day. The driver implores both the smokies and the four-wheelers to stay off their bumpers. He knows that the person who wants to get home the most is the most dangerous driver on the road. In essence, the song is a commentary on the hazards of holiday travel on dangerous roads.
