Pool Shark Lyrics - 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 

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?"