I was ahead
I was a seer
I left for Babylon
You and 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 and neck with the Kings of Crime
I worked the rivers and owned my own home
I was head and shoulders over flesh and 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 and did it alone
I was head and shoulders over flesh and 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