it was the time of the preacher when the story began of the choice of a lady and the love of a man and how he loved her so dearly he went out of his mind when she left him for someone she d left behind he cried like a baby he screamed like a panther in the middle of the night and he saddled his pony and he went for a ride it was the time of the preacher in the year of 01 now the preaching is over and the lesson s begun but he could not forgive her though he tried and he tried and he tried and the halls of his memory still echo her lies he cried like a baby he screamed like a panther in the middle of the night and he saddled his pony and he went for a ride it was the time of the preacher in the year of 01 now the lesson is over and the killing s begun it was the time of the preacher in the year of 01 when you think it s all over it s only begun