The Pool Shark

The Pool Shark - Dave Dudley

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

Just To see this fish and 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 candy 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