I was ahead
I was a seer
I left for Babylon
You & Herodias stayed in the wilderness
I was the one
With the halo on
But it was all to no avail
To know a veil of tears
When I was John the Baptist
When I was John the Baptist
When I was John the Baptist Jones
Ahead on points, ahead of my time
I was neck & neck with the Kings of Crime
I worked the rivers, I owned my own home
I was head & shoulders over flesh & bone
But when you did the dance of the seven veils
Salome, Salome, there was only the crockery below me
I was ahead
My success, like shampoo, washed you clean out of my mind
How could I know
The lengths you would go
When you're ahead of Jesus Christ you don't look behind
When I was John the Baptist
When I was John the Baptist
When I was John the Baptist Jones
Ahead of schedule, ahead of the hoard
I had the Moral Majority drunk as a Lord
I ducked adulterers & did it alone
I was head & shoulders over flesh & bone
But when you did the dance of the seven veils
Salome, Salome, there was only the crockery below me
Believe me, reprieve me, can you forgive me?
My sweet Salome, put yourself below me
For just one night, dear
Heavens above Salome, put yourself below me
For just one night