lyrics
Come, listen to our story, we’ll tell you no lies.
How Orenthal James did murder Omie Wise.
He told her to meet him in Beverly Hills.
He promised her money, gucci bags & pills.
She put on her lipstick, she dressed up so fine.
Innocent and lovely on Hollywood & Vine.
“Orenthal, oh Orenthal, tell me your mind?
Do you mean to marry me or leave me behind?”
“Omie, sweet Omie, you’ll never be my wife.
I have a silver dagger and I mean to end your life.”
“Have mercy, have mercy, please don’t murder me.
I’ll never be a bother, you’ll never hear from me.”
He kissed her and hugged her and took his dagger out.
Omie Wise never even had a chance to shout.
His glove and silver dagger Orenthal did hide.
He got in his Bronco, away he did ride.
Two children found her lying there, the 13th day of June.
Lips as red as blood & her skin pale as the moon.
They called up the police, the lawyers gathered round.
They went out on the freeway and chased that Bronco down.
They found the silver dagger, they found the leather glove.
They buried Omie Wise and now her spirit flies above.
Orenthal James did the jury acquit.
For the glove had shrunk in water, and no longer fit.
He got away with murder, he got away with lies.
For everybody knew he had killed poor Omie Wise.
He got away with murder, he got away with lies.
But he'll never get away from the ghost of Omie Wise.
credits
from
Volume One,
released May 18, 2012
Public domain murder ballad.
Lyrics reinterpreted by John DeLore
Vocal arrangement by Kara Suzanne
license
all rights reserved