Lyrics: Wild Bill Donovan
Album: Black Diamond
Artist: Stan Ridgway
 

In a time between two wars
When a slip could get you killed
A man appeared with a master plan
And they called him wild bill

He talked you ’round in circles
When he was done, yeah, you knew less
And he started up the company1
From what was left of the o.s.s.2

Chorus:
Wild bill, wild bill
The secrets that he’d hold
Wild bill, wild bill
He slept out in the cold

Now he was there in ’45
When the good war had wound down
The enemy had all been caught
But some could not be found

The price of information
Sometimes takes a sacrifice
A secret traded for a life
But someone pays the price

Chorus repeat

The world was on fire for bill
He had to take control
The enemy was close at hand
The tanks were told to hold

But deep inside bill’s massive head
A master plan did bloom
Buy the information out
By sellin’ a brand new tune

Chorus repeat