The Ballad of Bull Ramos

Lyrics

Drive a great big truck
When I'm old, when I'm old
Haul the wrecks down to the wreck yard
Help the boys unload
Keep my hair nice and long
Because I can, because I can
Any of my old friends who have no place to turn to
They know to call me any time they come through

Never die, never die
Stand with a bullwhip in my hand
And rise, rise
In the desert sand

Work days, work nights
Finally get laid up
By a piece of broken glass
On the floor of the shop
And the doctor recognizes me
As the operating theater goes dim
Aren't you that old wrestler with the bullwhip?
Yes sir, that's me, I'm him

Get around fine on one leg
Lose a kidney, then go blind
Sit on my porch in Houston[1]
Let the good times dance across my mind

Never die, never die
Stand with a bullwhip in my hand
And rise, rise
Surrounded by friends

Banter

He was the master of the Indian rope match. He was a professional wrestler. He is gone now. This is called 'The Ballad of Bull Ramos'. (2014-07-25)
Peter: [unintelligible off mic, presumably re: the fight that occurred during Steal Smoked Fish]
JD: I assume they're still mad, but maybe a little relieved, I dunno - one of them might be, I don't wanna look over there in case he gets mad at me. When people get violent with each other, it's a little triggering for me. It's like, oh, I'll just watch, and make sure it's not heading in my direction. [shuffling, audience yelling for songs] I know what I'm gonna play, and I'm pretty excited to play this song. [off mic discussion] Peter pointed out that I didn't actually know what I was playing. [Peter plays a knowing note] I was rushing ahead, 'cause I got excited about the one after this one. But I like this one too. (2015-04-04 - The Jinx, Savannah)
There's a thing about the minor villain wrestlers from the local territories that was great because you'd be really scared of them and their powers, but you'd go to another territory and nobody's ever heard of them. Just this guy who's terrorizing Los Angeles and in San Francisco, he can't get arrested for stealing from a convenience store. This is called 'The Ballad of Bull Ramos. (2015-04-11 - City Winery, New York City)
There was a wrestler named Bull Ramos. He had a bullwhip. That was a badass weapon to have. If you see a man comin' at you with a bullwhip, you should go the other way, because he's...no good can come from being attacked with a bullwhip, I suppose. But that was his whole deal, he would show up with the thing, but he'd never actually use it, because you can't whip your opponent in any sport, as far as I know. I don't know that there's a sport except the one that I'm promoting this tour, whipping, it's a very brutal sport... This is inspired by the great Bull Ramos, who was apparently, like, all bad guys, if you meet anybody who knew him, 'ah, he was the best guy, he'd give you the shirt off his back', and he, like a lot of wrestlers, didn't have a retirement plan, so he opened up a truck yard in Arizona and worked to a ripe old age. (2015-05-31 - Amoeba Records, San Francisco)

Live Performances

Footnotes

1. "Houston, Texas" (2015-04-11a)