Preacher In The Ring (part One) Lyrics - Bruce Hornsby

Spent the night over at a friend's place 

Sunday morning came, he was in my face 

Said I want to take you to a place 

Put you in a state of grace 

Drove way out to a cinderblock house 

I walked in like a Thomas in doubt 

Saw a man in a reptile suit 

With a rattling sound 

Whoa no, whoa no 

I can't get with this here I know 

Never seen nothing like this before 

Hallelujah and praise the man 

Upstairs with the long hand 

Wrap the snake and the angels sing 

Take your ride with the preacher in the ring 

There was biting and jumping and moans and wails 

Believers out shaking on the spirit trail 

Then some came and threw the man in jail, the man in jail 

He lifted up the snake overhead so high 

Eyes closed tight, he praised the sky 

Was a wild-eyed scramble over tables and chairs to see the light 

Whoa whoa so long 

Copperheads and sacred songs 

The book of Mark souldn't be wrong 

Hallelujah and praise the man 

Upstairs with the long hand 

Wrap the snake and watch 'em all sting 

As they go ten rounds with the preacher in the ring 

They're locking them up, they've got 'em on the run 

MIght as well sue all the doctors when they don't get it done 

Not everything, everybody does works all the time, son 

Whoa no, whoa no 

Say you got the answer, well how do you know? 

It works for me, that's all I know 

Hallelujah and praise the man 

Upstairs with the long hand 

Wrap the snake and watch 'em all sting 

As they go ten rounds with the preacher in the ring