Lyrics Cops and Robbers - Bo Diddley

Cops & Robbers Trk 23 Disc 1
(Jerome Green)
Bo Diddley - vocal & guitar, Willie Dixon - bass
Clifton James - drums, Jerome Green - maracas & vocal
Otis Spann - piano. Recorded October 1956, Chicago.
B0009231-02 Hipo Select (Geffen) 2007

Spoken Story:

I was drivin' home on the boulevard
Late one night, when I spied a guy over
On the corner, bummin' all alone.

Now, as I passed him by I heard him holler out, 'Hey! '
I slowed down, see what he said
He hollers-a, 'A-by any chance are you goin' my way? '
I say, 'Why sho' baby, hop on in and gimme a cigarette'
Just then he reached down in his pockets
And that was the moment I regret.

Sings:
He hollered, 'Reach for the sky'
I said, 'But I don't understand, sir? '
'Don't try no monkey business
I've got a stopper in my hand'

Spoken:
And then, he says-a, 'A-look-here, you see this here
I got in my hand, this is a.38 pistol, built on a.45 frame
Shoots tombstone bullets and a ball and chain'.

He said, 'Now, I ain't tryin' to shake you up'
(And I) 'But I just want you to know, if the cops
Start to crowd me any, you gon' be the first to go'
'So, now look-here, don't even look back
You just drive on just like ain't nothin' happenin'
That's what he told me. He wouldn't even let me look
Back at nothin'.
He say, 'When I get to that red light' he wanted me
To go to my left and then jump back to my right.
He says, 'Now-a, I want you to drive up in that alley.'
'Uh-uh, not in that alley, that, that one over there'
'And cool it behind that liquor sto' and keep a sharp
Lookout at all times while I sneak in that back do'.
That's what he told me!
He say, 'Keep my foot on the gas and always
Be on guard, 'cause when he come runnin' out there
Wit' all that money, he wanted me to mash on it real hard!
He said, 'Now, don't let him come out a-d'ere and find me
A-double-crossed' Because he'd murder when the heat's on.

Sings:
Reach for the sky
I said, 'But I don't understand, sir'
Don't try no monkey business
I've got the stopper in my hand

Ooo-we, while I was sittin' there just s'ramblin'
A spotlight hit me dead in the face.
The cop pulled up behind me and said
'Move up alittle bit, man, for we wanna take your place'

And then this guy come runnin' outta the sto'
With the money in his hand and said, 'Oh, there you are! '
Ha, he made a mistake in the dark and ran and leaped
In the police car.
When they put the handcuffs on him
I said, 'Child, yo' crime have outgrew him'
And then they said, 'Yeah, we gonna' put him
So far back in jail this time, 'till they gonna have
To pump air into him.