C


[Verse 1]
          C             F
He said, "Pardon me for being so bold,
    C
But you got a cigarette that's already rolled?"
  F                                        C
I gave him one, he lit it in his own good time
    C                       F
The smoke in that poolroom hung like a fog
        C
When he talked, he sounded like a growling dog
        F                                                 C
He said, "Would you care for a dollar on the five or the nine?"
          C                   F
Now this man was ugly and his eyes were mean
    C
His clothes were dirty but his hands were clean
   F                                                   C
He held that stick like a mother holds the hand of a child
      C                  F
Well, I've been known to hustle a few
         C
When the waitress said, "Is he playing you?"
               F                              C
And I said, "Yeah. Bring me brandy, water by."
C#


[Verse 2]
      C#                    F#
Well, Little Red Parker was way in the back
C#
Taking quarters and handling racks
                 F#                               C#
And I told him, "Red, come up here. Glue 'em up tight."
     C#            F#
That brandy had me feeling warm
  C#
I tipped that waitress and I checked her form
             F#                                      C#
And I said, "Honey, you like a winner?" and she just smiled
  C#                       F#
I played like a man with a broken wrist
C#
I won two and he won six
              F#                                      C#
And I had him set up so I said, "Let's play for five."
   C#                    F#
By this time a crowd had gathered around
   C#
To see this fish and just watch him drown
  F#                                          C#
I told that waitress, "More brandy, water by."
D


[Verse 3]
     D                     G
Then he went out and got a custom cue
        D
He said, "It's no offense to you,
    G                                            D
But I don't play off the wall with nobody but friends."
       D                   G
It had gold initials and a leather grip
D
Pearl and silver inlaid tip
   G                                                D
He smiled at me and he said, "Why don't we play for ten?"
      D              G
Well, I never seen a man that walk
    D
Who made those balls and table talk
        G                                         D
They're speaking English, he sure didn't need my help
   D                   G
He broke the balls and kept that string
      D
For a hundred and eighty seven bucks and a ring
     G                                         D
'Til I gave up and said, "Friend, you're gonna have to play by yourself."
D#


[Verse 4]
         D#                    G#
Well, he sacked it up and he walked outside
    D#
And I strolled out just to watch him ride
    G#                                                           D#
And there was a blonde in that Caddy built like the rest of that car
    D#                         G#
The boys in the poolroom, they had 'em laughing
    D#
And I hung it up and just let it pass
    G#                                                 D#
And didn't have a thing but my elbows to put on the bar
        D#                    G#
And the waitress smiled, said, "Water by?"
D#
I took the charity and I thanked her twice
    G#                                              D#
And sittin' there sippin' and suddenly I had me a thought
  D#                G#
Unlucky gambler and lucky in love
D#
  Guess you know what I was thinking of
              G#                                        D#
When I said, "Waitress, honey, what time do you get off?"