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