The Ballad of Spider John Songtext
von Sam Bush

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, been runnin′ from my past
Runnin' from the things I used to be

Well, I know my words sound strange to you
But if you'll wait ′til my song is sung and my story′s told
You 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

I was a supermarket fool
I was a roll-the-bank stool pigeon
Robbin' my own time
I thought I′d lost my blues, yes, I thought I'd paid my dues
And 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


Then one day I met Diamond Lilly
She was the sweetest thing
I declare that the summer breeze had ever blown my way
Lilly, she had no idea of my illustrious occupation
She thought I was a saint and not a sinner gone astray

Spider, he loved his Lily so much
He could not confess his sins, ′cause if he knew if he did
She 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 supermarket fool
I was roll-the-bank stool pigeon
Robbin′ my hometown
I thought I'd lost my blues, yes, I thought I′d paid my dues
I thought I'd found the life to suit my style
And ol' Spider John the robber man
Long, tall and handsome
Yes, ol′ Spider John with the loaded hand
Takin′ ransom


And that is all my story
It's been these 30 years since I took the road
Find my precious jewel one
Well 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 ol′ Spider got tangled in the black web that he spun