Pool Shark

He said, "Pardon me for bein' 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 a fog

When he talked it sounded like a growling dog

He said, "Would you care for a dollar on the five or 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 her child

Well, I've been known to hustle a few

When the waitress said, "Was he playing you?"

And I said, "Yeah, bring me brandy water by"



Little Red Parker was way in the back taking quarters and hadling 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 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"

But this time the crowd had gathered round

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"

He had a gold initials in a leather grip pearly and silver inlaid tip

He smiled at me and he said, "Hell-a-way, we play for ten"



Well, I never seen a man that walk who made those balls and table talk

They're speaking English, he sure didn't need my help

He broke the ball and kept that string

For a hundred and eighty seven bucks and a ring

Till I gave up and said, "Friend, you're gonna have to play by yourself"



Well, he racked it up and walked outside

And I strolled out just to watch him ride

And there was a blonde in their caddy built like the rest of that car

The boys in the poolroom they had 'em a laugh

And I hung it up and just let it pass

And had nothin' but my elbows to put on the bar



And the waitress smiled said, "Water by?"

I took the charity and thanked her polite

And sittin' there sippin' and 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?"