From the recording The Noir Album

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"Ben Franklin And The Number Five Combo" is an original song with a unique tale behind it: for years Big B entertained the idea of writing a song about a murder that occurs as a result of reading a fortune cookie. This idea eluded him until he researched the origin of fortune cookies and their content. He found out many relied on quotes from founding father Benjamin Franklin, which led him to one in particular from the 1735 edition of Poor Richard's Almanac: "Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead." Big B then used a fortune derived from that as the pivotal influence on a story of three armored car thieves that fatefully choose to celebrate their successful robbery with dinner at a Chinese restaurant. The slick upright bass on this track is provided by Koji Cassetta.

Lyrics

Ben Franklin And The Number Five Combo

"Three can keep a secret, if you get rid of two”
A fortune cookie told him what to do--
Paranoia all in his head
A day later two men were dead
Did you hear about the gang of three?
A Brink’s truck and a burglary?
You know they would have got away scot-free
If not for where they ate
I know that sounds a little funny
But later on when they count the money
They decide that they’re kinda hungry
So they go for Chinese food
Almond chicken and a pint of rice
General Tso’s with a little spice
Combo five came with some advice
For one out of the three
I later heard it was a paraphrase
Ben Franklin from the olden days
Pay attention for the phrase that pays
First caller gets the prize
“Three can keep a secret, if you get rid of two”
A fortune cookie told him what to do
Paranoia all in his head
A day later two men were dead
“Three can keep a secret if two are dead.”
That’s what ol’ Ben Franklin said
Two hundred years later that gets read
With an egg roll on the side
One man weighing up the facts
What are the chances of him reading that?
When the universe spots a rat
Well, you better recognize
First partner was an easy mark
No problem if you got no heart
Just piano wire in the dark
Put the harp right in his hands
Second yegg taken off the payroll
A shadow snuck in through the window
Dumb gat right through the pillow
Split, no-tomorrow style
“Three can keep a secret, if you get rid of two”
A fortune cookie told him what to do--
Paranoia all in his head
A day later two men were dead
How did the cops crack the case?
Some folks don’t forget a face
Like the waiter at the Chinese place
He reads the paper too
Known associates, where they stay
One shoulda left town yesterday
Bags packed for his getaway
Look inside, Ben Franklins stacked
I guess a founding father got them whacked
Not quite accessory before the fact
Poor Richard’s Almanac going back,
Seventeen thirty-five
Think of every choice a person makes
The little good ones and the big mistakes
Maybe if they’d all gone for steaks
They might still be alive
“Three can keep a secret, if you get rid of two”
A fortune cookie told him what to do
Paranoia all in his head
A year later three men were dead…