It was the time of the preacher when the story began. Of the choice of a lady and the love of a man. How he loved her so dearly, he went out of his mind. When she left him for someone, she'd left behind. An' he cried like a baby; He screamed like a panther in the middle of the night. An' he saddled his pony, An he went for a ride. It was the time of the preacher in the year of 01. Now the preachin' is over and the lesson's begun.