Luyện nghe bài hát The Face On The Barroom Floor

Recorded by Hank
Author - Hugh Antoine

'Twas a balmy summer evening and a crowd was there
Which well-nigh filled Joe's barroom on the corner of the
And as songs and witty stories came through the open
A vagabond crept slowly in and 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 stomach's equal 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 good
In fact, he smiled as though he thought he'd struck the proper
"Come, boys, I know there's kindly among so good a crowd
Why, to be in such good company would make a proud."
"Give me a drink - that's what I want - I'm out of funds, you
When I had cash to treat the gang, hand was never slow
What? You laugh as tho' you thought this never held a sou
Why, I was fixed as well, my boys, as of you."
"There, thanks - braced 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 days are past
My voice is cracked and my throat's out and my lungs are going fast.
"Say, Give me another and I'll tell you what I'll do
tell you a funny story and a fact I promise, too
That I was ever a decent man, not a one of you think
But, I was some four of five back - say, give us another drink.
"Fill her up, Joe, I want to put some into my frame
little drinks, to a bum like me, are miserably tame
Five fingers - there, that's the scheme - and whisky, too
Well, here's luck, boys; and landlord, my best to you.
"You've me pretty kindly and I'd like to tell you how
I to be the dirty sot you see before you now
As I you once, I was a man with a muscle, frame and health
And, but for a blunder, ought to have considerable wealth.
"I was a painter - not one daubed 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 I saw the star of fame before my eyes.
"I made a picture you've seen, 'tis called the 'CHASE OF FAME'
It brought me hundred pounds and added to my name
And then I met a woman - now comes the funny
With that petrified my brain and sunk into my heart.
"Why don't you laugh? funny that the vagabond you see
Could love a woman and expect her love for me
But 'twas so, and for a or two, her smiles were freely given
And when her lips touched mine it carried me to heaven.
"Boys, did you ever see a girl for your soul you'd give
With a form like the Milo Venus, too to live
eyes like the purest of diamonds and a wealth of chestnut hair?
If so, 'twas she, for there was another half so fair.
"I was working on a portrait one in May
Of a fair-haired boy, a friend of mine, who lived the way
And admired it and much to my surprise
Said she'd like to know the man that had such eyes.
"It didn't take to know him and before the month had flown
My friend had stole my darlin' and I was alone
And ere a year of misery had passed my head
The jewel that I had so, had tarnished and was dead.
"That's why I took to drink, boys - why, I saw you smile
I thought you'd be and laughing all the while
Why, what's the - friend? There's a teardrop in your eye
Come, like me; why 'tis only babes 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 picture of the face that me mad
Give me that 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 sketch a face that well buy the soul of any man
And as he placed another lock upon the shapely head
With a fearful shriek, he leaped and fell the picture - dead.