Ballad Of Spider John

"Spider John" is my name, friend

I'm in between freights and I sure would be obliged

If you'd share your company

I know this may sound strange to you

But if you wait 'til the song is sung and the story is told

You might come to understand

Oh, I'm old and bent and Devil sent, runnin' out of time

When I long ago held a Royal Flush in my hand

Oh, I was a supermarket fool

I was a motor bank stool-pidgeon

Robbin' my hometown

I thought I'd lost the blues, yes I thought I paid my dues

I thought I'd found a life to suit my style

But here I sit old Spider John the robber-man

Long, tall, and handsome

Yes, old Spider John with a loaded hand, takin' ransom

Then one day I met Diamond Lill

She was the sweetest thing, I declare

That the summer breeze had ever blown my way

But Lilly she had no idea, of my illustrious occupation

She thought I was a saint, not a sinner, gone astray, yeah

But you see that the word got around and Lilly left town

Never saw her again

Tossin' and turnin'

'Causin' my heart to grieve

Oh, I was a supermarket fool

I was a motor bank stool-pidgeon

Robbin' my hometown

I thought I'd lost the blues, yes I thought I'd paid my dues

I thought I'd found a life to suit my style

But here I sit old Spider John, the robber-man

Long, tall, and handsome

Yes, old Spider John with a loaded hand, takin' ransom

That is all my story

It's been these thirty years since I took to the road

To find my precious jewel one

If you see my Lilly, won't you give her my regards?

Tell her ol' Spider got tangled

In the black web that he spun

You can tell her ol' Spider got tangled

In the black web that he spun