JIMMY BUFFETT - Ballad of Spider John lyrics

rate me

Ballad of Spider John

By: Willis A. Ramsey

1974

"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 till 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

Chorus:

Oh, I was a Supermarket fool

I was a motor bank stool-pidgeon, robbin' my hometown

I thought I lost my 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

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

Never saw her again

Tossin' and turnin', 'causin' my heart to grieve

Chorus:

Oh, I was a Supermarket fool

I was a motor bank stool-pidgeon, robbin' my hometown

I thought I lost my 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

That is all my story

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

To find my precious jewel one

And if you see my Lilly, won't you give her my regards

Tell her ole Spider got tangled in the black web that he spun

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