As I was driving home along the boulevard late one night

I saw a guy in the corner, bumming all alone

As I passed him by, I heard him holler out: "Hey!"

I slowed down to see what he said, he said:

"Eh! By any chance, are you goin' my way?"

I said: "sure baby, hop on in and give me a cigarette"

Then he reached out in his pocket

And that was the moment I regret

Well now boy "Reach for the sky!"

Because I don't understand, sir

"Don't you try no monkey business, I got a stopper in my hand!"



An' then he said: "You see this rock I got in my hand?

This is a 38 pistol built on a 45 frame

It shoots tombstone bullets an' a ball and chain!"

He said: "I ain't tryin' to shake you up, but I just want you to know

If the cops start to crowding me in

You're gonna be the first to go!

You just drive on just like there ain't nothin' happenin'"

That's what he told me, he wouldn't even let me look back at nothin'



And he said: "when you get to that red light

I want you to jump back your left and then switch back your right"

He said: "Now, I want you to park up in that alley

Ah ah, not that alley, that one over there

And cool it behind that liquor store

And keep a sharp lookout at all times

While I sneak in that back door"

That's what he told me

He said:"keep your foot on the gas

And always be on guard

'cos when I come runnin' out the liquor store with all that money

He wanted me to mash on it real hard

He said: "Now don't you come out of there an' try me a double-crossed

Because it's murder when the heats on!"



Well now boy "Reach for the sky!"

Yeah but I don't understand, sir

"Don't you try no monkey business, I got a stopper in my hand!"



Ooeee, while I was sittin' there just tremblin'

A spotlight hit me dead in the face

An' a cop pulled up behind me and said:

"Move up a bit man, for we want to take your place!"

An' then this guy come runnin' out of the store with the money in his hand

And said "Oh there you are!"

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, your crime must have outgrew him!"

An' then they said: "Yeh, we gonna put him so far back in jail this time



That they're gonna have to pump air into him!"



Well now boy "reach for the sky"

Yeah but I said, I don't understand sir

Don't you try no monkey business, I got a stopper in my hand