Jimmy Dean - Darktown Poker Club Lyrics

(Jean Havez - Bert Williams - William H. Vodery)

Bill Jackson was a poor old dub
Who joined the Darktown Poker Club
And he cursed the day that he said he'd join
His money used to go like it had wings
If he yelled queens someone had kings
And each night he would contribute all his coin.

He said I'll play 'em tight tonight
No bobtail flushes gonna make me bite
When I go in buddy my hand will be a peach
And he played them tight but he lost his pile
And ol' Bill got peevish after a while
So he rose looked all around and made this speech.

He said you all see this brand new razor
I had it sharpened just today
And I'm gonna tell you there's brand new rules
That you gonna follow when you play.

Keep your hands above the table
When your dealing please
Don't be stickin' none of them aces
Down there between your knees.

Don't go makin' them funny signs
Like you tryin' to tip off your hand
Your just keen talkin' in American
Sonny boy so Bill can understand.

Don't be dealin' the bottom of the deck
Ooh, boy that's rough
And remember them poker friends
You get five that's enough.

When you bet put up them chips
'Cause I don't like it when your shy
When your broke, oh, then get some
I'm gonna be here by and by.

You pass them cards to ol' Bill but everytime before you deal
Then if anything's wrong I'm gonna see
Now you ain't gonna play this game accordin' to Mr Hoyle
You all play this game accordin' to me.

Now sittin' right there in that there clan
There chance to be a one-eyed man
And Bill kept watchin' him out the corner of his eye
This one-eye man'd deal and then
He'd lose ol' Bill another five or ten
And Bill got up looked all around him with a sigh.

He said Lord this is an awful shame
There's someone cheatin' in this here game
It ain't no do for me to name the guy
So I'll refrain from mentioning the party's name
If I catch him cheatin' just once again
I'm gonna take my fist and close that other eye.

You see this brand new razor
I had it sharpened just today
Now I'm gonna pass some brand new rules
You follow when you play.

Keep them bony fingers on the table
When you're dealin' please
Don't be stickin' none of them aces
Down there tween your knees.

Don't be makin' none of them funny signs
Like you're tryin' to tip off your hand
You just keep talkin' in American
Big AAA that I'll understand.

Don't be dealin' off the bottom of the deck
Friend 'cause that's rough
And remember friend
Five cards hole that's enough.

When you bet put up them chips
I don't like it when you shy
When you broke, oh, then get some
I'm gonna be here by and by.

You pass them cards to ol' Bill but everytime before you deal
Then if anything's wrong good neighbor I'm gonna see
Now you ain't gonna play this game accordin' to Mr Hoyle
You all play this game accordin' to me.

Lloyd if you break the seal
On that new deck of bicycles
We'll go on from there...