Im sittin in this diner suckin down week old coffee

And they didnt have any cream and they didnt have any sugar

And their grits were gritty and their eggs were even grittier

But I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon



Let me tell you something mister, I spent last night with my best girlfriends

Best friend and her sister

The moon was bright and I was tight

Higher than the cliched kite

Man, I was a sight

And I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon



And I went to start my car

But my car wouldnt go

And I didnt have no money

I didnt have no dough

And B. Bumble & The Stingers was playin on the radio

And the river, the river was filled up with silt

You cant even get a boat outa here anymore



I wondered, you know I just wondered why it happened that

way

It all happened so fast

Look out, it was already today

And I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon

I wonder why she wants me any old way



In the mirror, I looked over the bar, man, I looked like a raccoon

Now the radio is playin John Lee Hooker goin Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom

The waitress poured more coffee

It was so thick you could cut it with a spoon

And I looked into her eyes and I fell right into her wound

But I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon

And that time was approaching soon



I stepped outside and the world went by so fast it made my head spin

I decided I had to immediately duck back in

The waitress, she came over and she asked me

Hey, why didnt I like it

Im not eating my food

And I said no, I just dont think I was hungry as I was

The food is really good

And she said youre lying

I said no, Im just trying to be polite

She says now Ive heard everything

Goodnight

And I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon



Man, I looked over my shoulder

And in walked this man who was seven feet tall

And he asks me, he said, are you Nelson Algren

And I said no, son

And he pulled out his gun and he says well then

Give me your wallet

And I said I aint got one

And then he stuck his gun in my face and he just said just in case your lyin

You better stand up and let me take a look

And as he rumbled through my pocket he found a book

And he looked at me and he says whats this and I said it was a book I wrote

And he just laughed man, he just laughed at me

And he gave it back and he said well, then Im gonna take your coat



And I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon

I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon



So I said, I said shoot me, I said shoot me but please make it quick

Cause that stuff I drank the night before, it was, it was makin me really

Frightfully sick

And I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon

I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon

I was supposed to be getting married in the afternoon