[Intro: Bessie Smith]
This house is so haunted
With dead men
I can't lose

[Verse 1: John Darnielle]
I was having visions of sugared pastry
Cooked up in clarified butter
I tried to turn my visions into prayers
But I built my castle way high up in the air

[Chorus: John Darnielle]
Yeah, I came to the gates of the fabled pink city
Hungry and tired and cold
Swing low, sweet chariot
Chrome tailpipe shining bright as spun gold

[Verse 2: John Darnielle]
My brothers picked me up out of the rushes
Handed me into the company of evil men
But I inched my way down the eastern seaboard
I am coming to Atlanta again

[Chorus: John Darnielle]
Yeah I came to the gates of the fabled pink city
Hungry, and tired, and mad as all hell
Swing low sweet jewel-encrusted chariot
Make me young again; make me well
[Verse 3: John Darnielle]
I am the killer dressed in pilgrim's clothing
I am the hard-to-find stations on the AM band
I am the white sky high over Tripoli
I am the landmine hidden in the sand

[Chorus: John Darnielle]
Yeah I came to the gates of the fabled pink city
Hungry and tired and alone
Swing low, sweet, sweet, sweet chariot
Coming forth to carry me home