The Hustler - Ray Stevens

It was a cool night in Dallas at the Southside 9 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 9 ball, me and him»

And tonight we’ll find out who is the better man

Now 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 they used to say

Never make it 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 the suckers 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 run down at the feel

He said, «It's been a long time son, since I 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 tremblin' 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’ll find out who is the better man»

Then all we heard were cue balls crack and 9 balls fall and Slim say «Rack»

He kept the run 'til all my money was gone

And then he looked at me with those eye 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 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 the suckers son… just take 'em

'Cause if you can’t afford to lose

Then you should never play the game