Lyrics:

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 'til the song is sung and the stories told You might come to understand Why I'm old and bent and devil's been runnin' out of time When I long ago held a royal flush in my hand. Oh, I was a super market 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 But here I sit ol' Spider John The robber man Long, tall and handsome Yes, ol' 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 breeze ever blown my way But, lady, she had no idea my illustrious occupation She thought I was a saint, not a sinner gone astray But you see that word got around and Lily left town Never saw her again Tossin' and turnin', causin' my 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. But here I sit ol' Spider John, The robber man Long, tall and handsome Yes, ol' Spider John with the loaded hand Taking ransom That is all my story Been these 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 ol' Spider got tangled In