HE SAID PARDON ME
FOR BEING SO BOLD
BUT YOU GOT
A CIGARETTE
THAT'S ALREADY ROLLED
I GAVE HIM ONE HE LIT IT
IN HIS OWN GOOD TIME
THE SMOKE
IN THAT POOL ROOM
HUNG LIKE FOG
WHEN HE TALKED
HE SOUNDED LIKE
A GROWLING DOG
HE SAID
WOULD YOU CARE
FOR A DOLLAR
ON THE FIVE
AND THE NINE
NOW THIS MAN WAS UGLY
AND HIS EYES
WERE MEAN
HIS CLOTHES WERE DIRTY
BUT HIS HANDS
WERE CLEAN
HE HELD THAT STICK
LIKE A MOTHER HOLDS
THE HAND OF A CHILD
WELL I'VE BEEN KNOWN
TO HUSTLE A FEW
WHEN THE WAITRESS SAID
IS HE PLAYING YOU
AND I SAID YEAH
BRING ME A BRANDY
WATER BY
WELL LITTLE RED PARKER
WAS AWAY IN THE BACK
TAKING QUARTERS
AND HANDLING RACKS
AND I TOLD HIM
RED COME UP HERE
GLUE 'EM UP TIGHT
THAT BRANDY HAD ME
FEELING WARM
I TIPPED THAT WAITRESS
AND I CHECKED HER FORM
AND I SAID HONEY
YOU LOOK LIKE A WINNER
AND SHE JUST SMILED
I PLAYED LIKE A MAN
WITH A BROKEN WRIST
I WON TWO
AND HE WON SIX AND
I HAD HIM SET UP
SO I SAID
LET'S PLAY FOR FIVE
BY THIS TIME A CROWD
HAD GATHERED AROUND
TO SEE THIS FISH
AND JUST
WATCH HIM DROWN
I TOLD THAT WAITRESS
MORE BRANDY WATER BY
THEN HE WENT OUT
AND GOT A CUSTOM CUE
HE SAID
IT'S NO OFFENSE TO YOU
BUT I DON'T PLAY
OFF THE WALL WITH
NOBODY BUT FRIENDS
IT HAD GOLD INITIALS
AND A LEATHER GRIP
PEARL AND SILVER
INLAID TIP
HE SMILED AT ME
AND SAID
WHY DON'T WE PLAY
FOR TEN
WELL I'VE NEVER SEEN
A MAN THAT WALKED
WHO MADE THOSE BALLS
AND TABLE TALK
THEY WERE
SPEAKING ENGLISH
HE SURE DIDN'T NEED
MY HELP
HE BROKE THE BALLS
AND KEPT THAT STRING
FOR A HUNDRED
AND EIGHTY SEVEN
BUCKS IN THE RING
TILL I GAVE UP
AND SAID FRIEND
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
PLAY BY YOURSELF
WELL HE SACKED 'EM UP
AND HE WALKED OUTSIDE
AND
I STROLLED OUT
JUST TO
WATCH HIM RIDE AND
THERE WAS A BLONDE
IN THAT CADDY
BUILT LIKE THE REST
OF THAT CAR
THE BOYS
FROM THE POOL ROOM
THEY HAD 'EM A LAUGH
AND
I HUNG IT UP
AND JUST LET IT PASS
DIDN'T HAVE A THING
BUT MY ELBOWS
TO PUT ON THE BAR
AND THE WAITRESS
SMILED SAID
WATER BY
I TOOK THE CHARITY
AND I
THANKED HER TWICE
SITTING THERE SIPPING
WHEN SUDDENLY
I HAD ME A THOUGHT
UNLUCKY GAMBLER
AND LUCKY IN LOVE
GUESS YOU KNOW
WHAT I WAS THINKING OF
WHEN I SAID
WAITRESS HONEY
WHAT TIME YOU GET OFF