I had the blues so bad one time, I hated my whole life
I walked around with my head hung down in shame
All I saw were clouded skies, I could not find the light
And I told myself that woman was to blame

Well it all seems so different now, as it did when I was a child
When I could not see the dangers in some things
Man plans on livin' very long, he best learn some respect
For those rattlesnakes, painted ladies, and cocaine

There's lots of things in this whole world, bring a poor boy down
If you lead me you can save yourself some pain
You don't have to live in fear, but you better learn some respect
For those rattlesnakes, painted ladies, and cocaine

Well only a natural fool would take a rattlesnake to bed
But that rattler, he'll warn you before he strikes
And cocaine will sneak up on you, and pretend to be a friend
It'll be more deadly that that vipers bite
The painted lady, she'll come to you, when you're all alone
She seems to bring some comfort to the night
It's when you come to depend on her, well she'll be up and gone
And then you'll know what dying slow feels like

There's lots of things in this whole world, bring a poor boy down
If you lead me you can save yourself some pain
You don't have to live in fear, but you better learn some respect
For those rattlesnakes, painted ladies, and cocaine

These are just a few examples, the list goes on and on
A million things that could drive a man insane
You don't have to live in fear, but keep an open eye
For those rattlesnakes, painted ladies, and cocaine

For those rattlesnakes, painted ladies, and cocaine
For those rattlesnakes, painted ladies, and cocaine