The Hustler

It was a cool night in Dallas
 At the southside nine ball palace
 When I stepped in off the sidewalk
 With my pool cue in my hand
 I said "I've come for Texas Slim
 We're gonna shoot nine ball me and him
 And tonight we're gonna see who is the better man."
 Well I've heard he used to be the best
 And I've already beaten all the rest
 From New York to Chicago and L.A.
 They say that he's the king of hustlers
 An old time Texas pool hall rustler
 And ain't he the man that used to say:
 Never make it look too easy when you break 'em
 Get all the money out on the table
 Then take time to chalk and aim
 Don't take pity on 'em, southern son, just take 'em
 'Cause if you can't afford to lose
 Then you should never play the game
 Then out of the shadows dim
 Stepped what once was Texas Slim
 He was ripped, worn and ragged
 Kinda rundown at the heel
 He said "it's been a long time son
 Since I've shot pool with anyone
 But I'll play you one game if that's the way you feel."
 He was a pitiful looking man
 With a three day beard and a trembling hand
 Had to take him a shot of whiskey to ease the shakes
 I said "I've come to take you for all you've got
 And it don't matter if it ain't a lot
 And just to show you I'm a sportin' man you can have the break."
 And then a smile crossed the face
 Of every pool shark in that place
 As slim took down his custom inlaid pool cue from its stand
 He said "I've heard for days that you were comin'
 With your pockets full and your young mouth runnin'
 And tonight we're gonna find out who is the better man."
 Then all I heard were cue balls crack,
 Nine balls fall and Slim say "Rack!"
 And he kept the run till all my money was gone
 And then he looked at me with those eyes of ice
 And said "son I'll just leave you with this advice
 To ponder as you hitchhike your way back home: "
 Never make it look too easy when you break 'em
 Get all the money out on the table
 Then take time to chalk and aim
 Don't take pity on 'em, southern son, just take 'em
 'Cause if you can't afford to lose
 Then you should never play the game
 Never make it look too easy when you break 'em
 Get all the money out on the table
 Then take time to chalk and aim
 Don't take pity on 'em, southern son, just take 'em
 'Cause if you can't afford to lose
 Then you should never play the game