I pitched it in the river I tried so hard to throw that gun away
Oh well I pitched it in the river I tried so hard to throw that stinking gun away
Of all the lowdown dirty moves I’ve made ain’t none worse than the one I’ve done today

I have killed my bloody captain and laid him out upon pale pale ground
Yes I have killed my bloody captain and I laid him out upon pale pale ground
I take no orders take no signals that the chain of command is sending down

If I had possession of the hearts and minds they’re leading by the nose
If I had possession of the hearts and minds they’re leading by the nose
I’d make those lily-livered scoundrels wonder what it means to say anything goes

I tried to get away with murder tried to get out from under the first degree
I tried to get away with murder tried to get out of the heinous first degree
And when the judge makes his decision I’ll hunker down and bide my time and wait and see

Well they got writs and they got summons they got all the fine provisions of the law
They got writs they got permissions they got all the fine provisions of the law
Ain’t no monumental tablets ain’t no textbook of procedure worth a straw

You know my captain is a tyrant and I let him see the bullet lay him out
You know my captain he’s a tyrant and I let him watch the bullet lay him out
And I call the many witnesses to wipe out any shadow of a doubt

Then I pitched it in the river let it follow where my true love floated down
You know I pitched it in the river let it follow where my true love floated down
All you justice-loving people you can watch as this poor rambling boy goes down

The moon was shining bright as day those drunken white boys were riding in the car
The moon was shining bright as day those drunken white boys were joyriding in the car
They ran over Sonny’s uncle and they made sure to run over his guitar

There’s rumors flying east and west about the circus is coming into town
There’s rumors flying east and west about the circus that it’s coming into town
I’ll believe them when I see the trapeze and the elephant so nice and brown

Now don’t you do me any favors I’ll be beholden to nobody if you please
And do not do me any favors I’ll be beholden to nobody if you please
I’d rather die in darkest dungeon than to live five minutes’ time down on my knees

Montresor said Fortunado won’t you come on down and taste a little wine
And Montresor said Fortunado won’t you come on down and taste a little wine
Said Fortunado Montresor my friend I guess I’ll take you up some other time

Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg headed south down highway 41
Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg like a bat out of hell down highway 41
When they hit that Georgia border Kerouac said oh my God what have I done

You’re gonna have to serve somebody it might be the devil it might be the Lord
You’re gonna have to serve somebody it might be the devil and it might just be the Lord
Down highway 41 hit 95 and hope nothing outrun your V8 Ford