The Ballad of the Jellico Pill Pusher Lyrics

It's a muddy day at the Fine's Creek Lodge

The River runoff was high on the ol' French Broad

Been on the lamb for two straight weeks

Where I shot a man down in Tennessee

They's a Baptist church with bloody front steps

Across from a whore house where me and him met

An ol pill pusher born of Jellico

He pointed at the door said I oughta go

Reached for my gun but he got his first

My hand was tangled in his old lady's purse

His first shot blew off the lamp shade

The second shot nicked my neck and a Willie braid

The third shot went through his belt rung

Across the room from the end of my gun

He fell out the door and started down the stairs

Her wrists were on her ears and her hands in her hair

I lit a cigarette and picked up my hat

Stole a whiskey mini from the whore house rat

I stepped outside with no intention to kill

I proceeded on his trail of blood and pills

Found his tethered britches at the sanctuary door

And a dirty sweatshirt on the alter floor

He took his last breath in the baptismal pool

Reckon I hit a vein cause the water was soiled

Lookin' out over the pews I sucked my teeth

Knowin' he ain't got a door where I could hang a wreath

The next day I got out of Campbell County

It was Sunday morning, and I'm sure that they found him

So here I sit on the promenade

Of the ol' French Broad and its muddy today

Looking over my shoulder for the ghost I made

Hopin' he'll bring me back my ol Willie braid