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A pool-hall hustler named Andy Magee |
[Francine] |
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Once said, as he rested his hand on my knee: |
[Beefy] |
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"Son, never go into the billiard room broke," |
[Anon] |
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Words wiser than these have never been spoke |
[Beefy] |
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But I shrugged and just sauntered away
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[Francine]
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With my pack on my back and a tu-rul-eye-ay
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[Beefy]
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I started my journey the very same day |
[Grayman] |
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My cue stick in hand, I was looking to play |
[Francine] |
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Any hayseeds or suckers with paychecks to lose. |
[Will_H] |
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Needless to say, I'd first ply them with booze |
[Francine] |
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Then pocket my winnings and be on my way |
[Beefy] |
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With my loot in my boot and a yippie-ki-ay |
[Evan] |
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Then one day I wound up just outside Mobile |
[Beefy] |
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Racking 'em up with "Three-fingers" O'Neill |
[Evan] |
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We played through the night until, just before dawn, |
[Beefy] |
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All but my very last fiver was gone |
[Evan] |
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So I got on my knees and I started to pray |
[Beefy] |
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And with a hearty "Hi Yo Silver!" I just ran away |
[Evan] |
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My bankroll had dwindled; I needed an angle |
[Will_H] |
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'Twas then with my conscience I started to wrangle |
[Karin] |
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I figured the Lord made me sturdy and strong |
[Beefy] |
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But what if I used those gifts to do wrong? |
[Karin] |
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I thought about what my old mentor would say: |
[Beefy] |
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(My mentor was Ol' Blue Eyes) "I did it my way" |
[Karin] |
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So I found me a sucker, and made him a bet |
[Beefy] |
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"Two hundred bucks!" I'd be set . . . or in debt. |
[Will_H] |
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I racked up the balls, while he bought me a beer |
[Beefy] |
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'Twas then that my hand started shaking with fear |
[Francine] |
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But I took a large draught, and we started to play
|
[Beefy]
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Like "The Hustler," all night and then into next day
|
[Francine]
|
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My pigeon was winning--I suspected a sandbag. |
[Anon] |
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And it threw me to see that he carried a handbag |
[Francine] |
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From which he extracted a foldable cue |
[Helen Owly] |
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But I had a small derringer hidden from view |
[Beefy] |
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He may just end up with a hole in his beret |
[Evan] |
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Then I'll pocket the money and be on my way
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[Beefy]
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And my cash I will flash with a "Hip Hip Hooray!" |
[Karin] |