Luyện nghe bài hát The Face On The Barroom Floor

Recorded by Hank
Author - Hugh D'Arcy

'Twas a balmy evening and a goodly crowd was there
well-nigh filled Joe's barroom on the corner of the square
And as and witty stories came through the open door
A vagabond crept slowly in and posed 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 equal to the work!"
"I wouldn't touch him with a fork, why, he's as as a Turk."
This badinage the poor wretch took stoical good grace
In fact, he smiled as though he thought he'd struck the proper
"Come, boys, I know kindly hearts among so good a crowd
Why, to be in good company would 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 thought this never held a sou
Why, I was as well, my boys, as anyone of you."
"There, thanks - that's braced me - God bless you one and all
Next time I pass this good saloon, I'll make call
you a song? No, I can't do that - my singing days are past
My voice is cracked and my throat's out and my lungs are going fast.
"Say, me another whiskey and I'll tell you what I'll do
I'll tell you a funny 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 want to put some life my frame
Such little drinks, to a bum like me, are tame
Five - there, that's the scheme - and corkin' whisky, too
Well, here's luck, boys; and landlord, my regards to you.
"You've treated me pretty kindly and I'd like to you how
I to be the dirty sot you see before you now
As I told you once, I was a man with a muscle, frame and
And, but for a blunder, ought to made considerable wealth.
"I was a painter - not one that daubed on and wood
But an artist and for my age, was pretty good
I worked hard at my canvas and I was fair to rise
'Coz gradually I saw the star of fame my eyes.
"I made a picture you've seen, 'tis called the 'CHASE OF FAME'
It brought me fifteen hundred and added to my name
And then I met a woman - now the funny part
eyes that petrified my brain and sunk into my heart.
"Why don't you laugh? funny that the vagabond you see
ever love a woman and expect her love for me
But 'twas so, and for a month or two, her smiles freely given
And her loving 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
With eyes like the purest of diamonds and a wealth of chestnut
If so, she, for there never 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 Madeline admired it and much to my
Said she'd like to the man that had such dreamy eyes.
"It didn't take long to know him and before the had flown
My friend had stole my and I was left alone
And ere a of misery had passed above my head
The jewel that I had so, had tarnished and was dead.
"That's why I to drink, boys - why, I never saw you smile
I thought you'd be amused and laughing all the
Why, what's the matter - There's a teardrop in your eye
Come, laugh like me; why 'tis only babes and women would cry.
"Say, boys, if you'd give me just another whiskey, I'll really be
And I'll draw right a picture of the face that drove me mad
Give me that piece of with which you mark the baseball score
And you shall see the lovely upon the barroom floor."
Another drink and with chalk in hand the began
To a face that well might buy the soul of any man
And then as he placed lock upon the shapely head
With a fearful shriek, he and fell across the picture - dead.