Jack of Diamonds

I walked to school on Monday and when I stepped in the door
the other girls were gathered in a circle on the floor
Their slates and books were resting, dejected upon their desks
Their skirts bloomed out around them like the late spring tulips
Their skirts bloomed out around them like the late spring tulips

Henrietta glanced up and called to come and see
Peering round the ponytails all was revealed to me
A shinny deck of playing cards strewn upon the ground
Hastily we snatched them up as the bell began to sound
Hastily we snatched them up as the bell began to sound

When the lessons ended we lingered in the street
Counted up and made sure that the whole deck was complete
Then Henrietta handed the entire lot to me
She said, Annabelle, tonight, keeper of the cards you'll be
She said, Annabelle, tonight, will you keep them safe for me

When I got home I snuck into my room and shut the door
I knew I should be stealthy, still I spread them on the floor
Red and black and yellow, green, blue, purple, and white
The faces of the kings and queens brought colorfully to life
The hard faces of royalty brought colorfully to life

I didn't hear my mother until it was too late
Like a storm out of the southwest, she blew in and she raged
Before I knew what hit me all the cards were in her hands
She was screaming at the Devil as to the kitchen fire she ran
She was screaming at the Devil as to the kitchen fire she ran

Hot on her heels in horror, I knelt before the flames
Where the beauty of each number was burned into my brain
With my hands deep in my pockets, my teary eyes cast down
My mother learned me all the places Satan can be found
My mother learned me all the places Satan can be found

She said, Though it may seem harmless, a game of cards can lead
To greed and lust and whiskey, even infidelity
She made me swear to never hold the Devil's deck again
But I've still got the Jack of Diamonds underneath my bed
Yeah, I've still got the Jack of Diamonds underneath my bed
I've still got the Jack of Diamonds underneath my bed
I've still got the Jack of Diamonds underneath my bed
I've still got the Jack of Diamonds underneath my bed