Wild Bill

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Robert Hunter

In a torrid little cabin
'neath Aurora Boreeay
Wild Bill waxed his whiskers
dabbed perfume behind each ear
from a flask of Spanish lotion
that he'd had for many years
Kept it for occasions
when he went to see his dear
When he went down to see that little girl

Slipped off a ring of silver
Slipped on a ring of gold
with a twenty-carat diamond
that was carved into a rose
An ivory-stemmed revolver
was reflected in his boots
that glittered like the cuff studs
setting off his lovin' suit
when he went down to see that little girl

Threw a handful of ash on the fire
Made his way out through the snow
to the finest cuisine south of Canada
The finest north of Mexico
The lady who was his intension
with the look fit to fetch or to kill
had tattooed 'neath the lace on her bosom
"Wild Bill Loves Diamond Lil"

She was not just the girl of his dreams
He was not only fond of her charms
She could knock down a man at ninety paces
while he rolled her around in his arms
Shot a hole through the hand of Michael Miller
as he crept up behind Wild Bill
Said: Now share a little of the life I saved you
where you know you can relax and not get killed

Jacob nailed the ladder to the floor
Now we can't move the ladder 'round no more
Sunday is the day we go to church and pray the Lord
will take us when we die to golden shores
Monday is the day we go to work and pay our bills
Saturday we go and spend what's left at Diamond Lil's
Yeah, that's the day we go to Diamond Lil's

In a torrid little cabin
'neath Aurora Boreeay
Wild Bill waxed his whiskers
dabbed perfume behind each ear
from a flask of Spanish lotion
that he'd had for many years
Kept it for occasions
when he went to see his dear
When he went down to see Diamond Lil