Meet Me In The Alleyway - Steve Earle

I had a melancholy malady

Went to see the doctor and the doctor say

Too bad, nothin' he could do

He knew a man in Louisiana if I’m willin' 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

Meet me in the alleyway minute to midnight

Don’t be late meet me in the alleyway

Better come runnin' the spirits won’t wait

Thirteen tiger teeth in my talisman

St. John the Conqueror and a black cat bone

Been seen walkin' 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 callin' nearly all of my life

Been done ain’t the only boy from Tennessee

To carve his name in cypress with a jawbone knife

So you wanna be the king of America

Say you wanna know the oracle’s mind

Say you wanna see the Marquesses of Mardi Gras

dancin' with the devil at the end of the line