Early Roman Kings

All the early Roman kings in their sharkskin suits
Bow ties and buttons, high top boots
Drivin' the spikes in, blazin' the rails
Nailed in their coffins in top hats and tails
Fly away, little bird, fly away, flap your wings
Fly by night like the early Roman kings

All the early Roman kings in the early, early morn
Comin' down the mountain, distributing the corn
Speeding through the forest, racing down the track
You try to get away, they drag you back
Tomorrow is Friday, we'll see what it brings
Everybody's talkin' 'bout the early Roman kings

They're peddlers and they're meddlers, they buy and they sell
They destroyed your city, they'll destroy you as well
They're lecherous and treacherous, a hell-bent for leather
Each of 'em bigger than all 'em put together
Sluggers and muggers wearing fancy gold rings
All the women goin' crazy for the early Roman kings

I can dress up your wounds with a blood clotted rag
I ain't afraid to make love to a bitch or a hag
If you see me comin' and you're standing there
Wave your handkerchief in the air
I ain't dead yet, my bell still rings
I keep my fingers crossed like the early Roman kings

I can strip you of life, strip you of breath
Ship you down to the house of death
One day you will ask for me
There'll be no one else that you'll wanna see
Bring down my fiddle, tune up my strings
I'm gonna break it wide open like the early Roman kings

I was up on black mountain the day Detroit fell
They killed 'em all off and they sent 'em to hell
Ding Dong Daddy, you're comin' up short
Gonna put you on trial in a Sicilian court
I've had my fun, I've had my flings
Gonna shake 'em all down like the early Roman kings