Ry Cooder
Which Came First
[Chorus]
Well you may be a hater, you may be a lover
You can bet your life one destroys the other
I don't know how it all began
Which came first, the egg or the hen?
The egg or the hen?

[Verse 1]
Now the moon coming up, the sun going down
This old world keeps spinning around
Just as sure as the day turns into the night
What you do in the dark turns up in the light
Masked man ridin' out across the land
Spreading destruction and moving his hand
He carries a ray-gun, shoot from the hip
Got your past in his pocket, your future's in his grip

[Chorus]
You may be a hater, you may be a lover
You can bet your life one destroys the other
Well I don't know how it all began
Which came first, the egg or the hen?
Egg or the hen?

[Verse 2]
Now, you bet your life without a doubt
Asking a masked man to lead you out
He's got you so tight that you can't even see
That ray-gun is pointed right at you and me
Well you won't see it coming, you won't feel the blow
You won't get no warning, you won't never know
Now you can't start it sooner and fix it up later
And you ain't going to read about it in the newspaper
Rich or poor, mighty and meek
You don't need no ticket, you've all got a seat
High up on the mountain, low down in the alley
We'll all watch the world turn into Death Valley
[Chorus]
You may be a hater, you may be a lover
You can bet your life one destroys the other
Well I don't know how it all began
Which came first, the egg or the hen?
Egg or the hen?

[Guitar Solo]

[Outro]
Everybody shake hands 'cause time is winding up
Shake my hand 'cause time is winding up
Shake your neighbor's hand 'cause time is winding up
Ah shake that hand 'cause time is winding up
Better shake my hand 'cause time is winding up
Shake my hand 'cause time is winding up
Ah shake my hand 'cause time is winding up
Better shake my hand 'cause time is winding up

[Out Chorus]
You may be a hater, you may be a lover
You can bet your life one destroys the other
I don't know how it all began
Which came first, the egg or the hen?
Shake of the hand