The Pool Shark

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 poolroom hung like fog
When he talked he sounded like a growlin' dog
He said would you care for a dollar on the 5 and the 9?
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 playin' you?
And I said yeah bring me Brandy water by

Little Red Parker was away in the back
Takin' quarters and handlin' racks
And I told him Red come up here
Glue 'em up tight
That Brandy had me feelin' warm
I tipped that waitress and checked her form
And I said honey you 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 and 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 10
Well I've never seen a man that walked
Who made those balls and table talk
There speakin' English he sure didn't need my help
He broke the balls and kept that string
For a hundred eighty-seven bucks and a ring
'Til I gave up and said friend
You're gonna have to play by yourself

Well he sacked it up and he walked outside
And I strolled out just to watch him ride
And there was a blonde in a Caddy built like the rest of that car
The boys in the poolroom they had 'em laughing
I hung it up and just let it pass
And didn't have a thing but my elbows to put on the bar
And the waitress smiled and said water by
I took the charity and I thanked her twice
And sittin' there sippin' and suddenly I had me a thought
Unlucky gambler and lucky in love
Guess you know what I was thinkin' of
When I said waitress honey what time do you get off?