Steve Earle — Meet Me in the Alleyway

[Verse] I had a melancholy malady Went to see the doctor and the doctor say Too bad, nothing he could do He knew a man in Louisiana, if I’m willing to pay Laid my money on the barrelhead Man behind the bar began to shimmy and shake Can't lie, I reckoned I was dead When he picked my money up and I heard him say [Chorus] Meet me in the alleyway Minute to midnight, don't be late Meet me in the alleyway Better come running, the spirits won't wait [Verse] Thirteen tiger teeth in my talisman St. John the Conqueror and a black cat bone I've been seen walking with the guardians Now I’m in the alley and I’m all alone Can't run, can't hide from destiny Knew this day was calling nearly all of my life Been done, ain't the only boy from Tennessee To carve his name in cypress with a jawbone knife [Chorus] Meet me in the alleyway Minute to midnight, don't be late Meet me in the alleyway Better come running, the spirits won't wait [Bridge] So you want to be the king of America Say you want to know the oracle's mind Say you want to see the Marquesses of Mardi Gras Dancing with the devil at the end of the line [Chorus] Meet me in the alleyway Minute to midnight, don't be late Meet me in the alleyway Better come running, the spirits won't wait [Chorus] Meet me in the alleyway Minute to midnight, don't be late Meet me in the alleyway Better come running, the spirits won't wait