Wanted Dead or Alive

written by Warren Zevon

It wasn't the queen of diamonds that I drew first
Instead I got the ace of spades reversed
She quit me
She up and quit me, man--yeah
She quit me
She up and she quit me

It wasn't because I didn't treat her right--no
When dawn had drawn the curtains of the night
She quit me
She up and she quit me, man
She quit me
She up and quit me--yeah

It wasn't because I didn't treat her kind
I wonder who put leaving on her mind
She quit me
She up and she quit me, man
She quit me
She up and quit me--yeah

It wasn't because I couldn't satisfy--no
Now where'd she get the nerve to say goodbye
Oh, she quit me
She up and quit me, man--oh, yeah
She quit me
She up and quit me--yeah

Now, your grandma's, and my grandma's,
sittin' by the fire
My grandma told your grandma,
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire."

Hey, now (hey now) Hey now, (hey now)
Iko-iko an dey (yeah)
Chakko mo fino, ah-nah-ney
Chakko mo fi-nah-ney

Now, your flag boy and my flag boy
Was sittin' by the fire
My flag boy told your flag boy
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire."

Hey, now (hey now) Hey now, (hey now)
Iko-iko an dey (yeah)
Chakko mo fino, ah-nah-ney
Chakko mo fi-nah-ney

(Hey, hey now)

Now, look at my king,
All dressed in red
Iko-Iko an-dey
I betcha' five dollars,
He'll kill ya dead
Chakko mo fi-nah-ney

Hey, now (hey now) Hey now, (hey now)
Iko-iko an dey (hey)
Chakko mo fino, ah-nah-ney
Chakko mo fi-nah-ney

IKO! (descending into general hilarity)

Oh Tule, it's on account of you that I've been weeping
Here behind my hand
It's lonesome in my heart's land, as the sands of the desert

Oh, tell me, why was it always you, who, through the changes
You, who always sang and played while the green vespers rang
In the heart of the hillside

It's a sad song we always seem to be singing to each other
You and me, sweet and slightly out of key
Like the sound of a running down calliope

Oh Tule, it's once I was your knight in golden armor
With the sun behind my hair
My music filled the air with symbols and lightning

Oh Tule, now can't you see I'm changing like the seasons?
My hair is growing dark
And there's no room left in the ark for a lark with a broken wing

It's a sad song we always seem to be singing to each other
And a child's voice, so tender and out of tune
Keeps a'praying I'll be singing home soon

Oh Tule, it's on account of you that I'll be leaving
'Cross the deep salt sea
Whatever wild worlds I may see, will be empty without you

It's a sad song we always seem to be singing to each other
And a child's voice, so tender and out of tune
Keeps a'praying I'll be singing home soon

Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free

Well, I found her in a dance hall in Laredo
And she told me that she wanted only me
And I held her in my arms the way I used to
But when morning came she begged me to set her free

Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free

Well. I tried and tried to ride away and leave her
With my head hung low, teardrops filled my eye
I rode back to town and found her with a drifter
And I knew right then Ramona had to die

Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free

Well, I'm writing you this letter from Laredo
And tonight I'll ride across the Rio Grande
If I never live to see another sunrise
You know, I loved her
Ma, I hope you understand

Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free

Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free