Jerry Garcia
Samson and Delilah (Live at Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY, November 5, 1977)
[Intro]
If I had my way
I would tear this whole building down
[Verse 1]
Delilah was a woman, she was fine and fair
She had good looks, God knows, and coal black hair
Delilah she gained old Samson's mind
When first he saw this woman, she looked so fine
Delilah she climbed up on Samson’s knee
Said "Tell me where your strength lies, if you please"
She spoke so kind, talked so fair
Samson said, "Delilah, you cut off my hair
You can shave my head, clean as my hand
My strength become as natural as any old man"
[Chorus]
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this whole building down
[Verse 2]
You read about Samson, all from his birth
He was the strongest man ever has lived on earth
One day while Samson was walking along
Looked down on the ground he saw an old jaw bone
Then he stretched out his arm and his chains broke like threads
And when he got to move, ten thousand was dead
[Chorus]
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this whole building down
[Instrumental break]
[Verse 3]
Now Samson and the lion, they got in attack
And Samson he crawled up on the lion's back
You read about this lion, he killed a man with his paws
Samson got his hands up around that lion's jaws
He ripped that beast, killed him dead
And the bees made honey in the lion’s head
[Chorus]
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this whole building down
That's right
[Instrumental break]
[Outro]
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this whole building down
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this whole building down
I would tear this whole building down
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this whole building down
Come on up here if you feel it