Luyện nghe bài hát The Face On The Barroom Floor

Recorded by Hank
Author - Hugh Antoine

'Twas a balmy summer and a goodly crowd was there
Which filled Joe's barroom on the corner of the square
And as songs and 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 stomach's equal to the work!"
"I wouldn't touch him a fork, why, he's as filthy as a Turk."
This badinage the poor wretch took with good grace
In fact, he smiled as he thought he'd struck the proper place
"Come, boys, I know kindly hearts among so good a crowd
Why, to be in such good company would a deacon proud."
"Give me a drink - that's what I - I'm out of funds, you know
I had cash to treat the gang, this hand was never slow
What? You as tho' you thought this pocket never held a sou
Why, I was fixed as well, my boys, as of you."
"There, thanks - that's braced me nicely - God you one and all
Next time I pass good saloon, I'll make another call
Give you a song? No, I can't do that - my days are past
My voice is cracked and my throat's worn out and my lungs are fast.
"Say, Give me another whiskey and tell you what I'll do
I'll tell you a funny story and a I promise, too
That I was a decent man, not a one of you would think
But, I was some four of years back - say, give us another 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, boys; and landlord, my 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, frame and
And, but for a blunder, ought to made considerable wealth.
"I was a painter - not one that daubed on bricks and
But an artist and for my age, was pretty good
I worked at my canvas and I was bidding fair to rise
'Coz gradually I saw the star of before my eyes.
"I made a picture perhaps you've seen, 'tis called the 'CHASE OF
It brought me fifteen hundred pounds and added to my
And then I met a woman - now the funny part
With that petrified my brain and sunk into my heart.
"Why don't you it's funny that the vagabond you see
Could ever a woman and expect her love for me
But so, and for a month or two, her smiles were freely given
And her loving lips touched mine it carried me to heaven.
"Boys, did you ever see a for whom your soul you'd give
With a like the Milo Venus, too beautiful to live
With eyes like the purest of and a wealth of chestnut hair?
If so, she, for there 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 Madeline admired it and to my surprise
Said 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 passed above my
The jewel that I had treasured so, had and was dead.
"That's why I took to drink, boys - why, I saw you smile
I thought you'd be amused and laughing all the
Why, what's the matter - friend? There's a teardrop in eye
Come, laugh like me; why 'tis only babes and women would cry.
"Say, boys, if you'd give me just whiskey, I'll really be glad
And I'll draw right here a of the face that drove me mad
Give me that piece of chalk with you mark the baseball score
And you shall see the Madeline upon the barroom floor."
Another drink and with chalk in hand the vagabond
To sketch a face that might buy the soul of any man
And then as he placed another upon the shapely head
With a fearful shriek, he leaped and across the picture - dead.