[Verse 1]
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 until the song is sung and the story's told
You might come to understand
Why I'm old and bent and devil-spent, runnin' out of time
When I long ago held a royal flush in my hand

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, I was a supermarket fool
I was a motor bank stool-pigeon
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

[Chorus]
But here I sit, old Spider John the robber man
Long, tall, and handsome
Yes, old Spider John with a loaded hand
Takin' ransom

[Verse 2]
Then one day I met Diamond Lil, she was the sweetest thing
I declare, that the summer breeze had ever blown my way
But Lily, she had no idea of 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
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, I was a supermarket fool
I was a motor bank stool-pigeon
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

[Chorus]
But here I sit, old Spider John the robber man
Long, tall, and handsome
Yes, old Spider John with a loaded hand
Takin' ransom

[Outro]
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 Lily, won't you give her my regards
Tell her old Spider got tangled in the black web that he spun
You can tell her that Spider got tangled the black web that he spun