 Willis Alan Ramsey (1972) [ larger cover art ] |
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Spider John is my name friends.
I'm in between freights and I sure would be obliged
If I could share your company.
I'm on my way to nowhere,
Been running from my past;
Running from the things I used to be.
Now, I know my words sound strange to you,
But, if you wait 'til the song is sung and the story's told
You might come to understand.
Why I'm old and bent and devil sent,
Runnin' out of time;
When I long ago held a royal flush in my hand.
Chorus:
Oh, I was a supermarket fool.
I was a motorbank stool pigeon,
Robbing my hometown.
Thought I'd lost my blues,
Yes, I thought I'd paid my dues.
I thought I'd found the life to suit my style.
And ol' Spider John,
The robber man,
Long, tall and handsome.
Yes, ol' Spider John with a loaded hand,
Taking ransom.
Then one day I met Diamond Lil.
She was the sweetest thing, I declare,
That the summer wind had ever blown my way.
But Lil, she had no idea my illustrious occupation.
She thought I was a saint, not a sinner gone astray.
Spider, he loved his Lily so much
He could not confess his sins,
For he knew if he did, the lady would surely take her leave.
But you know that the word got around and Lily left town
And he never saw her again.
Tossin' and turnin', causin' his heart to grieve.
Chorus:
Oh, I was a supermarket fool.
I was a motorbank stool pigeon,
Robbing my hometown.
I thought I'd lost my blues,
Yes, I thought I'd paid my dues.
I thought I'd found the life to suit my style.
And ol' Spider John,
The robber man,
Long, tall and handsome.
Yes, ol' Spider John with a loaded hand,
Taking ransom.
That is all my story.
Been these thirty years since I took to the road
To find my precious jeweled 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 Spider got tangled
In the black web that he spun.
I'm in between freights and I sure would be obliged
If I could share your company.
I'm on my way to nowhere,
Been running from my past;
Running from the things I used to be.
Now, I know my words sound strange to you,
But, if you wait 'til the song is sung and the story's told
You might come to understand.
Why I'm old and bent and devil sent,
Runnin' out of time;
When I long ago held a royal flush in my hand.
Chorus:
Oh, I was a supermarket fool.
I was a motorbank stool pigeon,
Robbing my hometown.
Thought I'd lost my blues,
Yes, I thought I'd paid my dues.
I thought I'd found the life to suit my style.
And ol' Spider John,
The robber man,
Long, tall and handsome.
Yes, ol' Spider John with a loaded hand,
Taking ransom.
Then one day I met Diamond Lil.
She was the sweetest thing, I declare,
That the summer wind had ever blown my way.
But Lil, she had no idea my illustrious occupation.
She thought I was a saint, not a sinner gone astray.
Spider, he loved his Lily so much
He could not confess his sins,
For he knew if he did, the lady would surely take her leave.
But you know that the word got around and Lily left town
And he never saw her again.
Tossin' and turnin', causin' his heart to grieve.
Chorus:
Oh, I was a supermarket fool.
I was a motorbank stool pigeon,
Robbing my hometown.
I thought I'd lost my blues,
Yes, I thought I'd paid my dues.
I thought I'd found the life to suit my style.
And ol' Spider John,
The robber man,
Long, tall and handsome.
Yes, ol' Spider John with a loaded hand,
Taking ransom.
That is all my story.
Been these thirty years since I took to the road
To find my precious jeweled 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 Spider got tangled
In the black web that he spun.
| kcar | Posted: May 21, 2013 - 09:36 cc_rider wrote: W.A.R. is famous for two reasons: his amazing first album, and maybe the worst case of writer's block in history. He also wrote 'Muskrat Candlelight', which was retooled as 'Muskrat Love' by a number of notable artists. Another bunch of performers who don't like to rush into anything are The Flatlanders. Their sophomore effort came out a few years ago, something like 30 years after their first album. But they've been busy working. Mr. Ramsey, not so much. Given the sad beauty of this ballad, I can only hope that your use of "retooled" conceals an absolute corruption of another good Ramsey song into the unspeakable human rights atrocity known as "Muskrat Love", a toxic sicky-sweet soul killer. The Captain and Tenille are wanted in 53 countries for that crime against humanity. |
| garycha (Bristol, UK) | Posted: Apr 20, 2013 - 02:07 Lovely. Just lovely. |
| Tennisgirl (Stones Throw from T.O.) | Posted: Mar 03, 2013 - 08:42 spindrift wrote: Interesting segue from Ane Brun to this man. A little of the old yin and yang. True...exactly! I was taken aback by how gorgeously one complemented the next. |
| dc_zee | Posted: Dec 30, 2012 - 16:42 cc_rider wrote: W.A.R. is famous for two reasons: his amazing first album, and maybe the worst case of writer's block in history. He also wrote 'Muskrat Candlelight', which was retooled as 'Muskrat Love' by a number of notable artists. Another bunch of performers who don't like to rush into anything are The Flatlanders. Their sophomore effort came out a few years ago, something like 30 years after their first album. But they've been busy working. Mr. Ramsey, not so much. Austin lore has it that when Willis Alan was asked when he would release another album he replied... 'Why? Wasn't that one good enough?' or something along that track. |
| Dahlia_Gumbo (San Francisco) | Posted: Dec 30, 2012 - 16:41 Oooo, been too long since I've heard this. Great. Thank you!  |
| Larry_Rosenow (Bend, OR) | Posted: Nov 29, 2012 - 09:20 JerseeeGirl wrote: You are right Guess that I purchased in 1971 & '72 and still possess both rhose fine albums. |
| Larry_Rosenow (Bend, OR) | Posted: Nov 29, 2012 - 07:46 Nice to wake up to this album while sipping my coffee... something I did 39 years ago after I purchased this album. |
| shellbella (so california) | Posted: Nov 29, 2012 - 07:44 Wow... Beautiful |
| miahfost (Gothenburg, Sweden) | Posted: Nov 14, 2012 - 04:32 Truly a sad song. |
| pixelpeda (a small forest, a runnel) | Posted: Nov 14, 2012 - 04:30 Just beautiful.  |
| bpkengor (East Coast, USA) | Posted: Sep 27, 2012 - 12:06 fine recording all the way through. I have it on CD. i got it about 10 years ago |
| lily34 (lexvegas) | Posted: Sep 12, 2012 - 06:52 btt wrote: This is the first time I`ve ever heard this - a whopping 39 years after its release . The song has aged better than I have .  it's my 2nd time, i think. and i really like it. |
| bobdote | Posted: Jul 26, 2012 - 13:56 I saw Michael Hedges a few times back in the mid-80's and at least once he played 'Watermelon Man.' He introduced it as being by W.A.R., "one of his favorite songwriters." The album was impossible to find, but somewhere we came up with a tape of the LP and we wore that thing out. Great album from beginning to end - play more, Bill! |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Jul 11, 2012 - 08:43 snoodle wrote: I have this on vinyl. Found in bargain bin, in the second hand record store under what is now Whitcoulls on Queen St, Auckland, it has the price - 50c - written on the cover. This is the only place I have ever heard this record played. Except maybe the good old Border Radio show on Bfm years back. (I know, you didn't need to know all this) Sure, but it's still a nice story. My knowledge of this song comes from Jimmy Buffett, who covered it faithfully. I like the original better now though. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Jul 11, 2012 - 08:41 stunix wrote: did Bill just say something like "his first release and he has been working on a followup album since its release ..... in 1972!" I almost choked on my coffee! W.A.R. is famous for two reasons: his amazing first album, and maybe the worst case of writer's block in history. He also wrote 'Muskrat Candlelight', which was retooled as 'Muskrat Love' by a number of notable artists. Another bunch of performers who don't like to rush into anything are The Flatlanders. Their sophomore effort came out a few years ago, something like 30 years after their first album. But they've been busy working. Mr. Ramsey, not so much. |
| stunix (Narrowboat nr Caen Locks) | Posted: Jun 09, 2012 - 16:23 did Bill just say something like "his first release and he has been working on a followup album since its release ..... in 1972!" I almost choked on my coffee! |
| gypsyman (just passing through....) | Posted: Jun 09, 2012 - 16:16 btt wrote: This is the first time I`ve ever heard this - a whopping 39 years after its release . The song has aged better than I have . Same here....... |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Mar 06, 2012 - 11:22 Randomax wrote: He went to highschool in San Antonio. I have a friend that went to school with him. As said below, he wrote all these songs in his senior year and has had writer's block since. He has become known as a writer's writer and quite the iconic figure in that world. He is hermiting around in Wimberley, Texas with his wife (a great singer in her own right). He's a neighbor. |
| snoodle (Papatoetoe, New Zealand) | Posted: Mar 06, 2012 - 11:21 I have this on vinyl. Found in bargain bin, in the second hand record store under what is now Whitcoulls on Queen St, Auckland, it has the price - 50c - written on the cover. This is the only place I have ever heard this record played. Except maybe the good old Border Radio show on Bfm years back. (I know, you didn't need to know all this) |
| pdmccusker | Posted: Aug 29, 2011 - 12:20 Great artist. Don't hold Muskrat Love against him. His version makes sense. |
| nalle (Malmo, Sweden) | Posted: Aug 29, 2011 - 12:11 Never heard of, a great tune, thanks RP! |
| btt (firmly ensconsed in the Beautiful B.C Interior) | Posted: Aug 13, 2011 - 11:48 This is the first time I`ve ever heard this - a whopping 39 years after its release . The song has aged better than I have . |
| japanmoran (Honolulu, HI) | Posted: May 10, 2011 - 20:33 I thank my uncle for teaching me all these great Ramsey songs - he used to play them when I was a kid. He lived out in Idaho and was the coolest uncle I knew. He also taught me guitar. |
| jadedragon (that's Tm on the periodic table of elements) | Posted: Nov 02, 2010 - 19:12 k_trout wrote: Willis actually went to high school in Dallas and I believe he was the original composer of this song - I love a lyric from his song "Northeast Texas Women"......with their cotton candy hair rock on  Northeast women standing up, beat the other lyin' down... |
| coolpeople_rule (Winter wonder land) | Posted: Jun 28, 2010 - 06:45 What a great song! |
| spindrift (Philadelphia PA) | Posted: Jun 28, 2010 - 06:44 Interesting segue from Ane Brun to this man. A little of the old yin and yang. |
| badgerv | Posted: May 27, 2010 - 10:57 I agree strick wrote: Buffett's is far better than the original, IMO. badgerv wrote: Jimmy Buffett has a pretty good version of this song |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: May 27, 2010 - 10:57 k_trout wrote: Willis actually went to high school in Dallas and I believe he was the original composer of this song - I love a lyric from his song "Northeast Texas Women"......with their cotton candy hair rock on He went to highschool in San Antonio. I have a friend that went to school with him. As said below, he wrote all these songs in his senior year and has had writer's block since. He has become known as a writer's writer and quite the iconic figure in that world. He is hermiting around in Wimberley, Texas with his wife (a great singer in her own right). He's a neighbor. |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: May 27, 2010 - 10:56 Whoa! Instant time machine to age 15, when the Cosmic Cowboy sound was all over college AOR radio. Sorry to hear that Jimmy Buffet tainted this classic, but fortunately I've not been exposed. |
| Giselle62 (California's Cental Coast) | Posted: Apr 25, 2010 - 18:09 if he wrote "muskrat love" he can afford to be a hermit. |
| lophrequa (the very edge of the land) | Posted: Dec 20, 2009 - 17:15 ilovemusic wrote: A friend turned me on to Mr. Ramsey back in '75. I found myself singing the Ballad of Spider John yesterday, trying to remember all the words. I still have the album, but no way to play it. So I looked it up on youtube and found my way to this site. Not many people knew about Willis Alan Ramsey in the greater Detroit area back in those days, so I always felt privileged to be part of the select few. Good to know there are others out there who appreciate Willis. i've been listening for about five years and this is my first time hearing Willis, love it instantly. welcome to RadioParadise friend, i think you'll like it here |
| cohifi (Denver) | Posted: Dec 20, 2009 - 17:14 Everyone named Willis is cool in my book. This song is good too. |
| Jelani (Home of the freak, land of the vague) | Posted: Dec 20, 2009 - 17:11 Did he say "running from my pants"? |
| k_trout (Dream State) | Posted: Nov 19, 2009 - 07:15 Willis actually went to high school in Dallas and I believe he was the original composer of this song - I love a lyric from his song "Northeast Texas Women"......with their cotton candy hair rock on |
| strick (A New Home in the Sun) | Posted: Nov 19, 2009 - 07:11 Buffett's is far better than the original, IMO. badgerv wrote: Jimmy Buffett has a pretty good version of this song |
| badgerv | Posted: Nov 19, 2009 - 07:08 Jimmy Buffett has a pretty good version of this song |
| ilovemusic | Posted: Sep 23, 2009 - 11:35 A friend turned me on to Mr. Ramsey back in '75. I found myself singing the Ballad of Spider John yesterday, trying to remember all the words. I still have the album, but no way to play it. So I looked it up on youtube and found my way to this site. Not many people knew about Willis Alan Ramsey in the greater Detroit area back in those days, so I always felt privileged to be part of the select few. Good to know there are others out there who appreciate Willis. |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Sep 17, 2009 - 07:05 SDBob wrote: Ever since I got reminded about this artist (thank you Bill) I have be fascinated about just what happened to this guy. This album received well deserved critical acclaim when it was released in 1972. Since then nothing!? What happened?? I have read a few excerpts about how much of a recluse this guy is but I just can't get my head around someone with this much talent can just stop. Sounds like a good story line for a book or documentary. Willis wrote all these songs in high school (san antonio) then had writer's block....for years!!! Plus, performing live was never his fave. He is practically a hermit in Wimberley Texas these days...produces and sometimes performs here and there...can be spotted at many a backyard bbq. |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Sep 17, 2009 - 07:03 Again, I'll toot the Wimberley horn... |
| SDBob (San Diego, CA) | Posted: Jun 14, 2009 - 08:36 Ever since I got reminded about this artist (thank you Bill) I have be fascinated about just what happened to this guy. This album received well deserved critical acclaim when it was released in 1972. Since then nothing!? What happened?? I have read a few excerpts about how much of a recluse this guy is but I just can't get my head around someone with this much talent can just stop. Sounds like a good story line for a book or documentary. |
| auburntigerrich (Edge of the 'Verse) | Posted: May 13, 2009 - 14:23 Looking at the album cover, I think Willis knows something that we don't. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Mar 11, 2009 - 11:43 go_ski_mully wrote: Forgot how much I loved this Jimmy Buffet song! ..whoever this dude is I like the cover muchly! ...I shall raise a rum filled tropical drink to the my lips (as long as the boss ain't watch'n?) in support of covering an early Jimmy classic!  I used to think this was one of Mr. Buffet's songs too: his was the only version I'd ever heard. Always loved this song, regardless. c. |
| lmic (Sacramento, CA) | Posted: Mar 11, 2009 - 11:41 horstman wrote: Wow, My thought, exactly!This guy sounds just like Elton John, circa Tumbleweed Connection! |
| sugarray | Posted: Jan 24, 2009 - 08:52 ramsey the person is actually the epitome of the moody, temperamental, egotistical and disorganized songwriter/artist common to everyone's stereotype. almost a decade ago a friend hired him to do a show for a private event and ended up 9 months later disappointed, disillusioned, and some thousands of dollars poorer because on my recommendation he'd offered to help finance the recording of the so-called "second" willis alan ramsey album; it was obvious to me at the time that he has made a small industry out of producing this second album; many of the new original songs in it are decades old; he even once announced that it had a title or name; "gentilly" or something similar; that was over 7 years ago and the album is still unreleased and in post-production. shortly thereafter i ran into one of ramsey's financiers here in austin, a well-known older fellow who took ramsey under his wing, and i asked him when the album was coming out, and he commented that it had better come out soon; guess he's still waiting |
| trekhead (Set On FUN!!!) | Posted: Jan 07, 2009 - 06:28  |
| spindrift (Philadelphia PA) | Posted: Jan 07, 2009 - 06:26 Huey wrote: At first I thought this SUCKED...but then I got into it....very fuckin good Yes, me too.  |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Jan 07, 2009 - 06:24 This entire album is a classic. In songwriter circles Ramsey is considered a god....He's back writing again and performing some...but mostly another Wimberley hermit....we've got lots of them...makes it a GREAT place to live! |
| js5280 (Denver, CO) | Posted: Apr 29, 2008 - 20:53 Jackson_Hart wrote: "Ballad of Spider John" was written by Willis Alan Ramsey. Not all of Jimmy Buffet's recordings are penned by him, and this one is amongst the ones that weren't. Yep, not enough difficult (and often cheesy) rhymes to be a Buffet original ;-) Not a slam, actually a paraphrase from Buffett (from the book Pirate Looks at Fifty I think). For the Buffett haters, he may not be Hemingway but I have fond memories of Dr. Seuss too. Classic and sometimes just what you need to bring a smile to your face. Fins up! |
| Nick_Danger | Posted: Mar 29, 2008 - 08:36 Holy smokes. I haven't heard that in ages, I'd almost forgotten him. I picked that gem up on vinyl about a million years ago. It is just packed with great tunes. If I remember correctly, reading the list of studio musicians and their instruments is an absolute hoot. |
| ch83575 | Posted: Jan 26, 2008 - 09:33 horstman wrote: Wow,
This guy sounds just like Elton John, circa Tumbleweed Connection! Gotta pick this up. Thanks Bill. Horstman For the first half of the song I thought it was Elton. Great song! |