Slim Greer went to heaven
St. Peter said
You been a good right boy Slim
But now you're dead
Been a travelin' rascal
In your day
You can roam once more
Then you come to stay
Put these wings on your shoulders
And save your feet
Slim spoke up and said
Thank you Pete
Then Peter said go
To hell and see
All that they're doin'
Tell it back to me
But be sure to remember
How everything goes
Slim said
I'll see you on the late watch boy
So he got to covortin'
Swell as you choose
Like Lindy in the spirit
Of the St. Louis blues
He flew and he flew
Till at last he hit
A hangar with a sign
Readin' This is it
So he parked his wings
And he strolled around
Gettin' used to his feet
Back on solid ground
Then he come to a mansion
And walked right in
Up looked the Devil
With a sickly grin
No I didn't think to look for you
Mr. Greer
Tell me how could it be
That you come by here
He said I just dropped by
For a little spell
Make yourself at home
Here's the keys to hell
Said the Devil to Slim
Let's go downtown
He took the Devil's hand
And he showed him around
Showed him bawdy houses
And cabarets
Made him think of New Orleans
And Memphis days
Showed him folks all fightin'
Round the roulette wheel
Like Rampart street
In the south of Beale
Then he took him round the corner
Where Slim did see
A preacher with a woman
Sittin' on each knee
Showed him whiskey stills
Goin' everywhere
With a passel of Devils
Stretched dead drunk there
Then he took him to a furnace
That some devils was firin'
Hot as hell
Slim's a-mean perspirin'
White devils with pitchforks
Threw black devils on
Slim thought he'd better
Get movin' along
Said Slim this makes
Me think of home
Vicksburg, Little Rock,
Jackson, and Rome
Then the Devil gave Slim
The big Ha-ha
Turned into a cracker
With a sheriff's star
So he ran for his wings
Lit out from the ground
Hauled it back to Peter
He was heaven bound
Said Peter to Slim
Man you got back quick
Tell me how's the Devil,
What's his latest trick?
Oh no said Slim
I can't really tell
That place was Dixie
That I took for Hell"