He’s the best there is he’s the hellfire kid
The preacher’s son with a smoking gun
He’s a saint and a sinner a lover and a winner
He’s ice and fire truth and desire
He’s the best there is he’s the hellfire kid
He’s the thorn in the crown the nail and the hammer
The spear and the blood but he ain’t no good
He’s the hellfire kid the preacher’s son with a smoking gun
The ghost in the wire the book and the sword the bell and the candle
The hangman’s noose the axe that falls.
He’s the best there is he’s the hellfire kid
He’s wasted days and lonely nights
He’s the scream in the dream when the moon shines bright
He’s the bat in the belfry the blood in the needle
He’s the best there is he’s the hellfire kid
The preacher’s son with the smoking gun.
He’s the best there is he’s the hellfire kid
The preacher’s son with the smoking gun
The singing wire in the hedonist’s fire
The drowning man in the raging flood.
He’s the locust wind the fever man
Coughing blood and all that’s good.
He’s the best there is he’s the hellfire kid
the preacher’s son with the smoking gun.
He’s the jewel in the sky the fire in the eye of a fly.
He’s the mist in the trees the dew in the grass
The colour in the sky (and ) all that you ask.
He’s a prayer in the mind the curse and the knife.
He’s a stone in your shoe the sun in your head.
He’s the best there is he’s the hellfire kid
The preacher’s son with the smoking gun.
He’s the Judas of love pain in the heart
Sin in the soul and all that’s dark.
He’s the sun in the morning the warm summer wind
Hope in the fear when nothing goes right
He’s the best there is he’s the hellfire kid
The preacher’s son with the smoking gun.
Tyburn’s Tree (Folk Song)
Ode to Black Jack Smith. 1798
O Death, gather my bones lay the shroud o’er me
O Death, I’ll go no more a’ roaming
Down by the river where the wild roses grow,
Nor taste the sweetness of my true love’s lips.
O Death, the moor stands white’d beneath the moon
the hills pale shadows beyond.
I am to hang from Tyburn’s tree
My true love I’ll not see again.
I stole the rich man’s silver with a pistol in my hand.
I sold my soul for sixpence to buy my love ribbon and lace
O Death, am I forgiven?
Will God love me when I’m dead?
Or will my ghost wander lost and alone, just like the preacher said?
A thief, a thief, a thief is taken to hang from Tyburn’s tree.
O Death, I’m all afeared and trembling.
O Death, my companion be.
O Death, do not desert me,
Not here at Tyburn’s tree.
Hey Mary don’t’cha weep for me
Your son ain’t a coming a for to set me free
Oh yea – oh yea ----
Hey Jesus where you bin
I’m a three time loser won’t you come on in
Hey hey – Hey hey ----
Hey Mary the devil caught me
I’m a seven times sinner can’t shake him free
Hey hey – Hey hey ----
Hey Mary don’tcha weep for me
Your son ain’t a coming for to set me free
Hey Jesus where you bin
I’m an eight times sinner won’t you come on in
Oh yea – oh yea ----
Hey Jesus where you bin
I’m sittin’ here drowning in sin
Hey Mary have mercy on me
I’m an eight times sinner trying to make it ten
Oh yea – oh yea ----
Hey Mary don’tcha weep for me
Your son ain’t a coming for to set me free
Hey hey – Hey hey ----
Hey Jesus I believe in you
(but) ole man Smokey got a hold on me
Hey Mary don’tcha weep for me hey hey
The devil got hold can’t shake him free hey hey
Hey Jesus come on in hey hey
I’m waitin’ for you hey hey
I’m an eight time sinner trying to make it ten
Oh yea – oh yea ----
Hey Mary where you bin
Oh yea – oh yea ----
Hey Mary don’tcha weep for me
Repeat chorus
Shiver-n-shake it’s Rattlesnake Jake
Am a steam hammer baby pounding inside your head
Cause you just might remember somethin’ else I said
Am a locomotive baby, pounding down your track
Cause you just might remember,
Guess you know I won’t be back.
Am a steam hammer baby pounding down your track,
So come on baby, come on,
Shiver-n-shake with old rattlesnake Jake.
W-e-ee we was a rockin’ an’ a boppin’
Strollin’ an’ a hoppin’ till we couldn’t rock no more
Heard that bell, began to yell
Don’t want no school no more
W-e-ee we was a rockin’ an’ a boppin’ an’ a hoppin’
All across the classroom floor
Said I ain’t believin’ ain’t even screamin’
Bout them books no more.
Well ma days are kind of lonely an’ ma nights are shades of blue
Guess am losing you baby an’ ah ain’t sure what to do
Got those empty head blues, walkin’ through the sole of ma shoes
Lord I wish I could remember just what I was going to do
Got the empty head blues baby, empty head blues for you
Lordy lord got those empty head blues baby
Walkin’ through the soles of ma shoes.
Oh Johnny Johnny I’m running too
Johnny Johnny I love you
Johnny Johnny I’m running too – oh Johnny.
Fell in love beneath a summer sky
With a stranger passing by – oh Johnny.
You got your troubles I got mine
Don’t cha know things will work out fine?
Johnny love me take my summer heart
Hold me close say we’ll never part
Johnny love me take my summer heart – oh Johnny
Johnny Johnny I love you
Johnny Johnny I’m running too
Oh Johnny.
Going home to Zion
Goin’ home to Zion, Lord I know it won’t be long
Goin’ home to Zion, back home where I belong
Goin’ home to Zion, Lord I know it won’t be long
Tired of all this fussin’ an’ a figtin’ in a place I don’t belong
Tired of shakin’ an’ a throwin’ them ole devil’s rolling bones
Yea I’m goin’ home to Zion, Lord I know it won’t be long
Goin’ home to Zion
Lord please take me home
Tired of fussin’ an’ a fightin in a place I don’t belong
Tired of fussin’ an’ a fighting them ole devil’s rolling bones.
Are you deceiving me, is there something I should know
Are you trying to make me go, are you deceiving me
Is there something on your mind, you treat me so unkind
Are you deceiving me.
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