There was a man, hailed from Ohio, traveling west from where he'd been
His tumultuous arrival caused a stir in Oregon
Oh, he carried just a bible, but he'd never looked therein
He was a prophet of the wolf, yet adorned in shepherd's skin

Oh, I'd say he looked quite surly, but he always wore white gloves
He said, I mustn't get all dirty, for I serve the God above
But he'd always act so squirrely when we pressed for details of
These alleged sacred holy acts he claimed to do and love
And he'd say

Oh, pardon me
But can't you see
I'm a man of God, by that I mean God doesn't bother me
I believe in righteousness, in what I see
I'm a preacher of the good word if the good word's good to me

Oh, he spoke with wit and cunning. He could charm and he could lie
With a smile most becoming and a twinkle in his eye
But his mouth so broadly running did expose a spineless guy
You could no more pin a stance from him than hold onto the sky
And he'd say

Oh, pardon me
But can't you see
I'm a man of God, by that I mean God doesn't bother me
I believe in righteousness, in what I see
I'm a preacher of the good word if the good word's good to me
Yeah that's right

Soon enough the congregation pushed that joker out of town
Though his entrance sparked elation, his resistance wore us down
While I have no inclination to condone the church nor the hound
I can hear that prophet of the wolf and what he's saying now
Yeah, right now

Oh, pardon me
But can't you see
I'm a man of God, by that I mean God doesn't bother me
I believe in righteousness, in what I see
Oh, I'm a preacher of the good word if the good word's good to me
Yes, I'm a big fan of the big man when the big man's good to me
And I'll see you Sunday morning, if I'm absolutely free
I'm a preacher of the good word when the good word's good to me