From the recording Well, I'm Sixty-Four
Lyrics
The Greatest Bank Robber of All Time
Verse 1
D G
With bank robbery on his mind
A D
George Leslie was starting anew
D G
As a mastermind he was a natural
A D
So George got himself his very own crew
Verse 2
D G
A small time criminal and thug
A D
Thomas Draper was known around town as “Shang”
D G
With an oversized handlebar mustache
A D
Shang joined the George Leslie gang
Verse 3
Em A D G
Early on a Saturday morning
Em A D
The crew slipped into the Ocean National Bank
Em A D G
The Little Joker opened the safe
Em A D
George took every dollar, pound and franc
Chorus
G D
Oh, oh George Leslie
G D
The greatest bank robber of all time
G D
Oh, oh George Leslie
G A D
He never got caught for his crime
Instrumental D G A D
Verse 4
D G
With her long red hair and piercing blue eyes
A D
Babe Irving slipped into the saloon
D G
Shang starred at Babe and said, “oh my”
A D
He poured a drink and started to swoon
Verse 5
D G
Shang threw down a shot of whiskey
A D
Babe winked at Shang and said, “come on by”
D G
They got married just a few weeks later
A D
But Babe also caught George Leslie’s eye
Verse 6
Em A D G
George now was a high society guy
Em A D
While robbing banks nationwide
Em A D G
Living a double life lie
Em A D
George and Babe had a thing on the side
Chorus
G D
Oh, oh George Leslie
G D
The greatest bank robber of all time
G D
Oh, oh George Leslie
G A D
He never got caught for his crime
Instrumental D G A D
Verse 7
D G
Fifty bank robberies later
A D
George had a meticulous plan
D G
To pull off one more bank robbery
A D
The greatest in the entire land
Verse 8
D G
The whole gang gathered together
A D
To rehearse in a downtown warehouse space
D G
George Leslie led the crew step-by-step
A D
And the plans they were all in place
Verse 9
Em A D G
The target was the main depository
Em A D
For the wealthiest folks of the day
Em A D G
The Manhattan Savings Bank
Em A D
Corner of Bleeker Street and Broadway
Chorus
G D
Oh, oh George Leslie
G D
The greatest bank robber of all time
G D
Oh, oh George Leslie
G A D
He never got caught for his crime
Instrumental D G A D
Verse 10
D G
George said “Come on, let’s go”
A D
It’s breakin’ and enterin’ time
D G
They headed down to Bleeker Street
A D
But George had sweet Babe on his mind
Verse 11
D G
The gang got away with one big haul
A D
They scattered from the bank before daybreak
D G
Shang went looking for his wife
A D
But all he found was deep heartache
Verse 12
Em A D G
George Leslie disappeared after the heist
Em A D
Shang tracked him down on the Upper West Side
Em A D G
He found George and Babe in a hotel room
Em A D
He shot them both smack between their eyes
Chorus
G D
Oh, oh George Leslie
G D
The greatest bank robber of all time
G D
Oh, oh George Leslie
G A D
He never got caught for his crime
G A D
But he died for his roving eye
Instrumental D G A D