The flash pan hunter sways with the wind
And his rifle is the sound of the morning
Each sulfureous bullet must have its own wit
And each cartridge comes with a warning
Beware of elaborate telescopic meat
It will find its way back to the forest
For Wilhelm can’t wait to be Peg Leg’s crown
And the briar is strangling the rose back down
His back shall be my slender new branch
It will bend, it will sway in the breeze
As the devil does his polka with a hatchet in his hand
As a sniper in the branches of the trees
As the vulture flutters down, the snake sheds his dove
Wilhelm’s cutting off his fingers so they’ll fit into the glove
For Wilhelm can’t wait to be Peg Leg’s crown
And the briar is strangling the rose back down
The briar is strangling the rose back down
Words by William Burroughs
Music by Tom Waits
©1990, 1993 Jalma Music, Inc. / Nova Lark Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Tom Waits
Arranged by Tom Waits and Greg Cohen
Recorded by Tchad Blake at Prairie Sun Recording Studios, Cotati, CA, 1993
2nd engineer: Joe Marquez
Mixed by Biff Dawes at Sunset Sound Factory, Hollywood, CA
2nd Engineer: Mike Kloster
Tom Waits: Vocals
Ralph Carney: Bass clarinet
Matt Brubeck: Cello
Joe Gore: Banjo
Larry Rhodes: Bassoon
Bill Douglas: Bass
Francis Thumm: Organ
Kenny Wollesen: Percussion
Don Neely: Saw
Track 13 on the album ‘The Black Rider’ 1993
Time: 3.05