THREE ARMED POKER-PLAYIN’ RIVER RAT As recorded by The Everly Brothers (From the 1972 Album STORIES WE COULD TELL) [Intro] [Verse 1] In the summertime in 1861 And I was livin’ near to Cairo town Only 20 years old when I stepped aboard the River Queen Well a man walked up in a shiny blue suit He said “Son you wanna play some cards?” It was the three-armed poker playin’ river rat from New Orleans [Verse 2] Well we sat down to play a little game of Black Jack And the folks how they gathered round And then he started to deal so fast my head commenced to spin In one hand he had a drink In one hand he had a smoke In one hand he had a royal flush Dirty three-armed poker playin’ river rat from New Orleans [Guiatr Solo] [Verse 3] You know I played ’til I was broke Then I upped and walked away To have talk with gal I’ found For to get some sympathy for way the stranger treated me Well he walked up as bold as brass Put two arms around her waist And with the other hand he knocked me down I hate the three-armed poker playin’ river rat from New Orleans [Guitar Solo] [Verse 4] And now morning has come to rolling River Queen Where the gamblin’ man slept last night Folks say he fell overboard and was washed out to sea And here I’m sitting here in a shiny blue suit Just a-grinnin’ like a crazy fool Kinda wonderin’ what to do with the other sleeve I hate that three-armed poker playin’ river rat from New Orleans