It was the time of the preacher When the story began Of the choice of a lady And the love of a man And how he loved her so dearly He went out of his mind When she left him for someone She'd left behind He cried like a baby He screamed like a panther In the middle of the night And he saddled his pony And he went for a ride It was the time of the preacher In the year of '01 Now the preaching is over And the lesson's begun But he could not forgive her Though he tried and he tried and he tried And the halls of his memory Still echo her lies He cried like a baby He screamed like a panther In the middle of the night And he saddled his pony And he went for a ride It was the time of the preacher In the year of '01 Now the lesson is over And the killing's begun It was the time of the preacher In the year of '01 When you think it's all over It's only begun