Luyện nghe bài hát The Face On The Barroom Floor

Recorded by Snow
Author - Hugh Antoine

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