Ballad Of Spider John

Spider John is my name, friends
I'm in between freights and I sure would be obliged
If I could share your company
I'm on my way to nowhere
I've been running from my past
Running from the things I used to be

Now, I know my words sound strange to you
But if you wait till the song is sung and the story's told
You might come to understand
Why I'm old and bent and devil-spent and running out of time
When not long ago held a royal flush in my hand

Oh, I was a supermarket fool, I was a roll-the-bank, a
Stool pigeon
Robbing my hometown
I thought I'd lost the blues, yes, I thought I'd paid my dues
I thought I'd found the life to suit my style

And I was Spider John
The robber man
Long, tall and handsome
Yes, I was Spider John with the loaded hand
Taking ransom

Then one day I met Diamond Lil
She was the sweetest thing, I declare
That the summer wind had ever blown my way
Lil, she had no idea of my illustrious occupation
She thought I was a saint, not a sinner gone astray
Spider, he loved his lady so much
He could not confess his sins, for he knew if he did
The lady would surely take her leave
But you know that the word got around and Lily left town
And he never saw her again
Tossing and turning, causing his heart to grieve

Oh, I was a super market fool, I was roll-the-bank, stool pigeon
Robbing my hometown
I thought I'd lost my blues, thought I'd paid my dues
I thought I'd found the life to suit my style
And I was Spider John
The robber man
Long, tall and handsome
Yes, I was Spider John with the loaded hand
Taking 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 Lily, won't you give her my regards
Tell her old Spider got tangled
In the black web that he spun

You can tell her that old Spider got tangled
In the black web that he spun