City of the King

I heard they named St Louis after some French king
 She said she's named Marie after the last French queen
 The city of the king comes callin' when the sun goes down
 But she only likes to call me when no one comes around
 The lights on the river shine like a diamond ring
 But I haven't got ten dollars in the city of the king
 She's bruised behind the makeup that's painted on her face
 Another man, another night, another spaded ace
 More pain she can't erase
 I may be just a jack but I treat her like a queen
 Give her only love in the city of the king
 One day the Mississippi will wash over everything
 In the city of the king
 Bottles on the table, dagger shining clean
 East side Sunday mornings in the city of the king
 We play a game of hearts when times for her are slow
 I tell her that I love her but she only says I know
 One night I came by, I saw a man with Marie
 Fear behind her tears for the city of the king
 I saw him raise his fist for the last time I swore
 I cut him with my knife, left him bleeding on the floor
 I can't come back here no more
 I may be just a jack but I treat her like a queen
 Give her only love in the city of the king
 One day the Mississippi will wash over everything
 In the city of the king
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 I laid low down in Memphis and for a time in New Orleans
 Waitin' to return to the city of the king
 But news rolled from upriver hit me cold like lead
 Marie told folks she'd killed a man then they found her dead
 In the river dead
 I may be just a jack but I treat her like a queen
 Gave her only love in the city of the king
 One day the Mississippi will wash over everything
 In the city of the king
 In the city of the king
 In the city of the king