Cops And Robbers (Blues In Rhythm / 1964)

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:
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 nothing
And he said: when you get to that red light
I want you to jump 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
'Cause 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!

Oohh, while I was sittin' there just trembling
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