Dead Man's Hand

Letra de Dead Man's Hand

Johnny Samartino and his third wife Kate Took a backpack full of money to the Seaside Arcade To meet a man from Teaneck that said he'd get 'em paid That they should just relax and learn to trust himSaid he put some on the ponies that were runnin' upstate Had a secret 'bout a Philly that was gonna break late The other part he'd double, but he didn't wanna have to say The way that he was gonna have to do itJohnny looked at Katie and gave a little shrug Katie flashed a smile and gave that Teaneck man a hug He said, "My name's Domenico, but my friends all call me Doug" Said he could have their money back by MondayThey watched him walk away and went to have a drink Eight hundred thousand dollars was all that they could think If it all works out quicker than a liar learns to blink They could be home free and send the kids to collegeHold on as long as you can 'Cause now you're playin' Playin' with a dead man's handThey woke up early Sunday for the grand occasion It wouldn't matter soon with all the money they'd be makin' Johnny threw out all his razors 'cause there ain't no sense in shavin' Once you've told that old boss man where he could shove itKatie stood there smilin' and lit a cigarette Put some bacon on a biscuit and turned on the TV set It was early in the mornin' and the race hadn't started yet But a man came on with news he said was breakin'Said a man from Teaneck had gotten tied up with the mob He needed half a million dollars just to pay all his debts off Found him dead in some back alley behind the gamblin' hall Holdin' on to nothin' but a backpack that was emptyKatie cried, "Oh, Johnny, all our money's gone That's everything we had, there's nothin' even left to pawn I guess we should put a "for sale" sign out there on the lawn And just get the most we can and get to runnin'"Hold on as long as you can 'Cause now you're playin' with a dead man Hold on as long as you can 'Cause now you're playin' Playin' with a dead man's handJohnny said, "Don't worry, I think I've got a plan" That's the famous last words spoken by every desperate man Kissed her goodbye with a .38 in his right hand And a rusty crowbar swingin' from the otherKatie didn't hear a word for 48 long hours Then news broke about a mob boss gettin' gunned down in the shower They thought it could be revenge by some other gang for power But the police on the TV acted nervousA single .38 shot to the head there at the scene Found an old revolver that appeared to be wiped clean A crowbar by the toilet, they weren't sure what that could mean And said they'd let us know throughout the investigationShe heard Johnny's car, so she ran out on the steps Had a backpack in his right hand and 12 red roses in his left He kissed her and said, "I love you, but I think it could be best If maybe we just headed west and went to Kansas"Hold on as long as you can 'Cause now you're playin' with a dead man's hand Hold on as long as you can 'Cause now you're playin' Playin' with a dead man's hand You're playin' with a dead man's hand