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 been runnin' from my past
 Running from the things I used to be
 Now, I know my words sound strange to you
 But if you wait 'til my song is sung and the story's told
 Might come to understand
 Why I'm old and bent and devil-spent
 And runnin' out of time
 When not long ago, I held a royal flush in my hand
 Oh, I was a super market fool
 I was a roll-the-bank, stool pigeon
 Robbin' my hometown
 I thought I'd lost my blues
 Yes, I thought I'd paid my dues
 An' I thought I'd found a life to suit my style
 And ol' Spider John, the robber man
 Long, tall and handsome
 Yes, I was ol' Spider John with a loaded hand
 Takin' ransom
 ♪
 Then one day, I met Diamond Lil
 She was a sweeter thing, I declare
 As a summer wind that ever blown my way
 Lil, she had no idea
 My illustrious occupation
 She thought I was a saint, not a sinner gone astray
 Spider, he loved his lady so much
 Could not confess his sins, for he knew if he did
 Lady would surely take her leave
 But you know that the word got around and Lily left town
 And he never saw her again
 Tossin' and turnin', causin' his heart to grieve
 Oh, I was a super market fool
 I was a roll-the-bank, stool pigeon
 Robbin' my hometown
 I thought I'd lost my blues
 Yes, I thought I'd paid my dues
 An' I thought I'd found a life to suit my style
 And ol' Spider John, the robber man
 Long, tall and handsome
 Yes, ol' Spider John with a loaded hand
 Takin' ransom
 ♪
 That is all my story
 It's been 'least thirty years since I took to the road
 Find my precious jewel one
 If you see my Lily, won't you give her my regards
 Tell her ol' Spider got tangled in the black web that he spun
 You can tell her that Spider got tangled in the black web that he spun