Luyện nghe bài hát The Face On The Barroom Floor

Recorded by Snow
- Hugh Antoine D'Arcy

'Twas a summer evening and a goodly crowd 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 vagabond crept slowly in and upon the floor.
"Where did it come from?" said. "The wind has blown it in?"
"What does it want?" cried, "Some whiskey, rum or gin?"
"Here, Toby, seek him, if stomach's equal to the work!"
"I wouldn't touch him a fork, why, he's as filthy as a Turk."
This the poor wretch took with stoical good grace
In fact, he smiled as though he thought he'd struck the proper
"Come, boys, I know there's kindly hearts among so a crowd
Why, to be in such good company make a deacon proud."
"Give me a drink - that's what I - I'm out of funds, you know
When I had cash to treat the gang, this was never slow
What? You laugh as tho' you this pocket never held a sou
Why, I was fixed as well, my boys, as of you."
"There, - that's braced me nicely - God bless you one and all
Next time I this good saloon, I'll make another call
Give you a song? No, I can't do that - my singing are past
My voice is cracked and my worn out and my lungs are going fast.
"Say, Give me another whiskey and I'll 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 would
But, I was some four of five years back - say, us another drink.
"Fill her up, Joe, I to put some life into my frame
Such little drinks, to a bum like me, are miserably
Five fingers - there, the scheme - and corkin' whisky, too
Well, here's luck, and landlord, my best regards to you.
"You've treated me kindly and I'd like to tell you how
I came to be the dirty sot you see you now
As I told you once, I was a man with a muscle, and health
And, but for a blunder, ought to have made wealth.
"I was a - not one that daubed on bricks and wood
But an and for my age, was rated pretty good
I worked at my canvas and I was bidding fair to rise
'Coz I saw the star of fame before my eyes.
"I made a picture perhaps you've seen, 'tis the 'CHASE OF FAME'
It me fifteen hundred pounds and added to my name
And then I met a woman - now the funny part
With eyes petrified my brain and sunk into my heart.
"Why don't you laugh? it's funny that the you see
ever love a woman and expect her love for me
But 'twas so, and for a month or two, her were freely given
And when her loving touched mine it carried me to heaven.
"Boys, did you ever see a girl for whom soul you'd give
With a form like the Milo Venus, too to live
With eyes like the purest of diamonds and a of chestnut hair?
If so, 'twas she, for there was another half so fair.
"I was working on a one afternoon in May
Of a boy, a friend of mine, who lived across the way
And Madeline it and much to my surprise
she'd like to know the man that had such dreamy eyes.
"It didn't take to know him and before the month had flown
My had stole 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 to drink, boys - why, I never saw you smile
I you'd be amused and laughing all the while
Why, what's the matter - friend? There's a in your eye
Come, laugh 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 of the face that drove me mad
Give me that piece of chalk with which you mark the score
And you shall see the lovely Madeline upon the floor."
Another drink and with chalk in the vagabond began
To sketch a face well might buy the soul of any man
And then as he another lock upon the shapely head
With a fearful shriek, he and fell across the picture - dead.