He offered them a good ride on*
To help them save the family farm
For ergo he was damn near good as rain

Then came the time for them to choose
An offer they could not refuse
With easy-outs and capital gain

No one has a suspicious feelin
You really couldn't call it stealin'
He did it with a style most would admire
But he had picked 'em off like a bird on a wire

He had open fire on a bird on a wire
A nudge a wink and they'd be gettin higher
He whipped out his fountain pen
While the tears were gettin' drier
And then he picked 'em off like a bird on a wire

There ain't a kid with a Bb gun
Or an alley cat with room to run
Who could bring 'em down like they was out for hire
Yeah, he could pick 'em off like a bird on a wire

He went golfing everyday
They voted while he was away
Though technically he's chairman of the board

They had become avaricious
Leaving him to do the dishes
They introduced him to his new landlord

Who told him his time came and went
Their office in the orient
Would send him checks for soon he would retire
Yeah, they had picked him off like a bird on a wire

They had open fire on the bird on a wire
He was sleeping they were getting higher
They polished up their macintosh while his ass was in the mire
And then they picked him off like a bird on a wire

There ain't a kid with a Bb gun
Or an alley cat with room to run
Who could bring 'em down like they was out for hire
Yeah, they could pick 'em off like a bird on a wire