John Wesley Harding

Ordinary Weekend

John Wesley Harding


I lost my job on Friday, I went drinking to forget
My luck it had been down so long but I could change it yet
Sat down and started talking with some guy sitting there
He bought me drinks all afternoon until I didn't care
He said was I in need of work, some money could be found
I said "Is it above the law?" He said "It's underground"
I said "I need the paycheck now, I got debts here and there"
He smiled and asked if I could drive and I said "Anywhere"
Anywhere...

In this weekend of ordinary dreams
Everything is not as it seems
Take a look around at the faces in the crowd
And you'll see where I've been

We met up on the Saturday, I thought it was us two
But I had not asked questions not knowing what to do
Twelve of them were in the van, thirteen including me
Twelve pairs of eyes were staring back at me, suspiciously
And so I just sat down and drove, took them to some track
And drove past the security guard while they hid in the back
They made me stop, and got out there, and I heard a couple of shots
I hoped they were in self-defense but I knew that they were not
They were not...

Not in this weekend of ordinary dreams...

I drummed my fingers on the wheel and waited for the boys
Had a smoke, I had a few, I got very paranoid
And still they hadn't come back there, so I just drove away
Deciding to play safe and get my share another day
On Sunday, he came round my place, I asked him where they'd been
He said they'd left another way and only I was seen
He said that we should cash the van and did I want my share
I didn't like the way they'd left but by now I didn't care
Didn't care...

Didn't care for this weekend of ordinary dreams...

He drove me to a back room with a single swinging light
Someone said "The fish are starving, ain't it time they had a bite"
And I felt sick and stupid and damned my own brown hair
Forgetting that the price you pay must far exceed the share
Someone pulled a knife out and they stabbed me in the back
They tied my hands and bound my feet and threw me in a sack
They took me to a lakeside and they threw my body in
I could hear them laughing, they said you can sink or swim
Sink or swim...

So hear you desperate women and hear you desperate men
Don't take your life for granted
Don't live your life in vain
But if you think that you can change it,
Hope you know you can't go back
Just go down to the lake
Watch me floating in a sack,
In this sack.