Stringer he's a bad man, he murders for pleasure

Stringer he's a bad man, a con man, a thief

The cops they want to catch him but Stringer's too clever

He slips through the dragnet by the skin of his teeth

The poor and the needy they sing of his exploits

They feed him and hide him like one of their own

But Stringer is a scoundrel, a taker a user

He cares about Stringer and Stringer alone

Many's the dear friend he's sold down the river

He follows no code 'cos he does as he wishes

Stab you in the back with his tongue or his flickknife

Grass you to the Sweeney or feed you to the fishes

Stringer he's a bad man, he murders for pleasure

Stringer he's a bad man, a con man, a thief

Stringer he's a bad man, and there's no redemption

His old white-haired mother, she once turned him in

He grins ear to ear as he's lying or scheming

Or pulling the trigger but thinks it no sin

His enemies lie there unmarked in the forest

Don't mess with old Stringer or you'll get the same

He doesn't do feelings, he doesn't do pity

He'll waste you and then say, my dear, what a shame

Now Burchett and Gravett and Stringer and Streeter

And Wheeler and Fowler, they ruled the whole town

Where are they now, those kings of the underworld

Stringer's the only one left above ground

Stringer he's a bad man, he murders for pleasure

Stringer he's a bad man, a con man, a thief