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 spunI am a farmer, I been one all my life
Call me a farmer, and not a farmer's wife
The plough and hoe left their patterns on my hand
And now they tell me this is not my land
We raised two children, they are farmers too
A crop and garden every year we grew
Two hundred acres ain't no easy haul
But it's a good life, no regrets at all
When Joe turned 50, his back was actin up
We three took over, so's he could rest up
My Joe was buried where his daddy lies
And soon some men came, askin for my price
I said, "I live here, and here I'm gonna stay
What makes you think I wanna move away?"
They smiled real sly, said, "Now your farmer's dead.
This farm ain't yours till you pay the overhead."
I know we women, we ain't been in the know
But we're no fools as far as farmin goes
The crop don't know no woman's work or man's
There ain't no law can take me from my land
Cause I'm a farmer, I been one all my life
Call me a farmer, and not a farmer's wife
The plough and hoe left their patterns on my hand
No one can tell me this is not my land,
This is my land.
words and music by Kristin Lems c MCMLXXXIII Kleine Ding Music (BMI)