Lyrics

They say he wears a coat
that is made of midnight shadows.
His footsteps in the moon light
they never make a sound.
You can see his dark reflection
In every bedroom window.
when you hear that wicked whistling’
you’ll know that he’s around.

He's been known to tie a gallows noose
with one hand behind his back
He carries around a bible,
but all the pages are black
They say he's got a rattlesnake
tied up in a burlap sack
And when he snaps his fingers,
that wicked beast attacks

Refrain:
You'll sometimes catch a glimpse of him
from the corner of your eye.
There are those who say you'll see him
just before you die

He's fond of wicked riddles
and deadly murder games
Those mournful songs of mayhem
are the only ones he sings
He's known in other countries
by many other names
And every culture knows him
for the sorrow that he brings

Refrain:
You'll sometimes catch a glimpse of him
from the corner of your eye
There are those who say you'll see him
just before you die

He's a fan of devastation,
of pestilence and wars
and he helps build wicked empires
for spiteful money whores
He whispers keep your boots on
the dusty throats of the poor
Suffering and misery
are the tributes he adores

Refrain:
You'll sometimes catch a glimpse of him
from the corner of your eye
There are those who say you'll see him
just before you die

You will always find him seated
in the back row of a wake
And just past 2 A.M.
in the darkness of your room
In thunderstorms he’s waltzing
between the drops of rain
He whistles for the lightening
Ffand he lures you to your doom

They call him Whistlin’ James.

His name is Whistlin’ James.