Pay The Alligator Lyrics - Flatlanders

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