Wild Bill Donovan Lyrics - Stan Ridgway

In a time between two wars 

When a slip could get you killed 

A man appeared with a master plan 

And they called him Wild Bill 

He talked you 'round in circles 

When he was done, yeah, you knew less 

And he started up the company1 

From what was left of the O.S.S.2 

Chorus: 

Wild Bill, Wild Bill 

The secrets that he'd hold 

Wild Bill, Wild Bill 

He slept out in the cold 

Now he was there in '45 

When the good war had wound down 

The enemy had all been caught 

But some could not be found 

The price of information 

Sometimes takes a sacrifice 

A secret traded for a life 

But someone pays the price 

Chorus repeat 

The world was on fire for Bill 

He had to take control 

The enemy was close at hand 

The tanks were told to hold 

But deep inside Bill's massive head 

A master plan did bloom 

Buy the information out 

By sellin' a brand new tune 

Chorus repeat