The Flatlanders - Pay the Alligator Lyrics

Hey the sheriff pulled me over and he started his jive
In a 20 mile zone I was doing twenty-five
Son keep your lead foot off the accelerator
If you don't slow down you'll have to pay the alligator

I was counting my money in the back of my store
IRS came a knocking at my door
He found me hiding down behind my own refrigerator
If you don't pay me you gotta pay the alligator

Pay the alligator, pay the alligator
It might be sooner and it might be later
One thing for sure you gotta pay the alligator

Well, the after life come and it scared me half to death
I heard Saint Peter mutter underneath his breath
Take this bucket well talk about it later
You can paint the pearly gate or pay the alligator

Well, a devil caught me looking at the thermostat
I told him I'd never touch nothing like that
He said shut the hell up and do what I say
Or you gonna have the alligator to pay

Pay the alligator, pay the alligator
It might be sooner and it might be later
One thing for sure you gotta pay the alligator

Order in the court, suspect on the stand
He said he saw the witness with a whistle in his hand
The judge said I hate to implicate the perpetrator
But if you jack with the judge, you gotta pay the alligator

You gotta walk on razors and sleep on nails
Talk like ducks and walk like quails
Go blindfolded it backwards through the discombobulater
If you don't do it right you gotta pay the alligator

Pay the alligator, pay the alligator
It might be sooner and it might be later
One thing for sure you gotta pay the alligator

Pay the alligator, pay the alligator
It might be sooner and it might be later
One thing for sure you gotta pay the alligator