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