You were a spider
You were a vulture
You were the snake that turned your victims into sculpture
You were the toxin in the water
Spreading sickness in the town
You were the bloodshed on the crown
You were a spider

You were a spider
You were a canyon
You were an outlaw spraying bullets with abandon
You were the legendary whisper
Passed through every child’s ear
But now you’re William
You’re only William

And William’s strong and William’s wise
And William warms you with his eyes
And when he dies they’ll say “now there’s a man
Who turned his life around”
And William hides his battle scars
Behind long sleeves and folk guitars
But I could swear I saw nostalgia
In the smile on his face
When he said “Children, better learn from my mistakes”

You were a spider
You were the thunder
You were the quicksand dragging all the horses under
You were the fear in father’s eyes
The dream that trembled mother’s hand
The specter haunting o’er the land
You were a spider

And William’s good and William’s well
And William has a tale to tell
He’s been through hell and he can keep the flames
From burning us away
And all his demons are released
Cause William’s finally found his peace
And so we breathe collective sigh
The battle’s ceased, the war is done
And William smiles and says that everybody won
And William sighs and says that everybody won

And now you’re William
You’re only William
But you were a spider