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The Face On The Barroom Floor
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Hank Snow
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Recorded by Hank Snow
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Author - Hugh Antoine D'Arcy
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'Twas a balmy summer evening and a goodly crowd was there
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Which well-nigh filled Joe's barroom on the corner of the square
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And as songs and witty stories came through the open door
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A vagabond crept slowly in and posed upon the floor.
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"Where did it come from?" Someone said. "The wind has blown it in?"
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"What does it want?" another cried, "Some whiskey, rum or gin?"
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"Here, Toby, seek him, if your stomach's equal to the work!"
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"I wouldn't touch him with a fork, why, he's as filthy as a Turk."
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This badinage the poor wretch took with stoical good grace
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In fact, he smiled as though he thought he'd struck the proper place
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"Come, boys, I know there's kindly hearts among so good a crowd
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Why, to be in such good company would make a deacon proud."
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"Give me a drink - that's what I want - I'm out of funds, you know
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When I had cash to treat the gang, this hand was never slow
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What? You laugh as tho' you thought this pocket never held a sou
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Why, I was fixed as well, my boys, as anyone of you."
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"There, thanks - that's braced me nicely - God bless you one and all
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Next time I pass this good saloon, I'll make another call
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Give you a song? No, I can't do that - my singing days are past
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My voice is cracked and my throat's worn out and my lungs are going fast.
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"Say, Give me another whiskey and I'll tell you what I'll do
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I'll tell you a funny story and a fact I promise, too
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That I was ever a decent man, not a one of you would think
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But, I was some four of five years back - say, give us another drink.
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"Fill her up, Joe, I want to put some life into my frame
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Such little drinks, to a bum like me, are miserably tame
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Five fingers - there, that's the scheme - and corkin' whisky, too
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Well, here's luck, boys; and landlord, my best regards to you.
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"You've treated me pretty kindly and I'd like to tell you how
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I came to be the dirty sot you see before you now
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As I told you once, I was a man with a muscle, frame and health
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And, but for a blunder, ought to have made considerable wealth.
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"I was a painter - not one that daubed on bricks and wood
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But an artist and for my age, was rated pretty good
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I worked hard at my canvas and I was bidding fair to rise
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'Coz gradually I saw the star of fame before my eyes.
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"I made a picture perhaps you've seen, 'tis called the 'CHASE OF FAME'
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It brought me fifteen hundred pounds and added to my name
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And then I met a woman - now comes the funny part
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With eyes that petrified my brain and sunk into my heart.
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"Why don't you laugh? it's funny that the vagabond you see
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Could ever love a woman and expect her love for me
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But 'twas so, and for a month or two, her smiles were freely given
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And when her loving lips touched mine it carried me to heaven.
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"Boys, did you ever see a girl for whom your soul you'd give
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With a form like the Milo Venus, too beautiful to live
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With eyes like the purest of diamonds and a wealth of chestnut hair?
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If so, 'twas she, for there never was another half so fair.
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"I was working on a portrait one afternoon in May
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Of a fair-haired boy, a friend of mine, who lived across the way
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And Madeline admired it and much to my surprise
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Said she'd like to know the man that had such dreamy eyes.
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"It didn't take long to know him and before the month had flown
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My friend had stole my darlin' and I was left alone
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And ere a year of misery had passed above my head
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The jewel that I had treasured so, had tarnished and was dead.
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"That's why I took to drink, boys - why, I never saw you smile
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I thought you'd be amused and laughing all the while
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Why, what's the matter - friend? There's a teardrop in your eye
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Come, laugh like me; why 'tis only babes and women that would cry.
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"Say, boys, if you'd give me just another whiskey, I'll really be glad
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And I'll draw right here a picture of the face that drove me mad
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Give me that piece of chalk with which you mark the baseball score
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And you shall see the lovely Madeline upon the barroom floor."
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Another drink and with chalk in hand the vagabond began
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To sketch a face that well might buy the soul of any man
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And then as he placed another lock upon the shapely head
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With a fearful shriek, he leaped and fell across the picture - dead.
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