Don't you never do what Peetie Wheatstraw done
Don't you never do what Peetie Wheatstraw done
He went and killed his partner just to have his fun
Peetie Wheatstraw is a bad man
Sure wouldn't tell you no lie
Peetie Wheatstraw is a bad man
Sure wouldn't tell you no lie
He threw whiskey in his buddy's face
Just to see him cry
And the band kept playing
You know they never missed a beat
And the band kept playing
Yes they never missed a beat
When a shot from Peetie's table
Went and knocked the drummer right off his seat
And the band kept playing
You know they never missed a note
And the band kept playin'
Yes they never missed a note
Then some fool from out the crowd
Went and grabbed a guitar player by the throat
The bus pulled into Gary
We was lit when we all got downtown
The club was run by Sweet Mary
She told us to shake'em on down
We got up on the bandstand
The crowd yelled, Rock all night!
Peetie, we stopped, bullets gone
The horse began to run
And the pimp started betting on the fight
But the band kept playing
While the people hit the floor
And the band kept playing
While the people hit the floor
The tenor was playing the slow rock
When I saw the police come right through the door
Two old women in the back, they begin to moan
Said Lord somebody's killed tonight, some poor mother's son is gone
Right then the cops grab Peetie, sweet Mary grab the light
And I heard somebody singing this old hymn on that night
Nearer, nearer my God to Thee
Nearer, nearer my God to Thee
Say Lord have mercy if you please
Nearer, nearer my God to Thee
Nearer, nearer my God to Thee
Say Lord have mercy, have your please
But the band kept playing
And the music filled the air
And the band kept playing
And the songs just filled the air
And it sounded so, so good
That the music was everywhere
Oh Lord, yes that band kept playing
That band kept playing
That band kept playing
That band kept playing
That band kept playing