Listen if you will, I have a tale to tell

Of an unfortunate man, the name of Solomon Snell

And the philosophy he should have embraced

That says no matter what you do, you'll never be safe



Ring the bell, ring the bell for Solomon Snell

Too much trust is the road to hell



Rightfully nervous, he took every precaution

He paid three armed men to drive him to Boston

But wouldn't you know it, he was broke on arrival

His own men robbed him and took off in style



So he wanted to marry a girl who was true

And on the basis of her name he would fidelity prove

She had a handsome cousin she would visit in Charlotte

Well, she said he was her cousin, the brazen harlot



Ring the bell, ring the bell for Solomon Snell

He played it safe and it didn't end well

Ring the bell, ring the bell for Solomon Snell

Too much trust is the road to hell



He caught yellow fever, down Charleston way

Before you knew it, they were digging his grave

But he was most terrified of being buried alive

And so to his finger a bell was tied



You see Snell had arranged for a man to be paid

To listen for the bell when he was buried in his grave

But the man got drunk and when the bell did sound

Solomon lived but he stayed in the ground



No one heard a sound



Ring the bell, ring the bell for Solomon Snell

Too much trust is the road to hell

Ring the bell, ring the bell for Solomon Snell

You can play it safe but it won't end well



You can play it safe but it won't end well

You can play it safe but it won't end well