Gardenias From Louis

(album: Lady Sings The Blues - 1972)

Billie

Yeah? Yeah, Jerry

These are for you. There's a car waiting for you upstairs

Oh, thanks, Jerry

Here's your money, Yvonne

A car waiting for me upstairs

Don't flash them moon eyes at me, girl. I didn't send you nothing

There was never a doubt in my mind. Besides, there's a card, and you probably can't even write

Don't have to know how to read, neither, to know what that card's saying

If he spent as much time running his numbers as he does them damn gardenias, he could have one hell of a business

Jerry?

Huh?

Tell him the answer is no

No?

No

That'll show him, 'cause he usually gets everyone he wants

He can get this one, too, but not on the first night

Good night, lady

Good night, Billie

Good night, Jerry

What's the matter? You don't like gardenias?

They're okay

So?

So you don't put them on just to go to someone's apartment for a late-night supper

Hohohoho, so that's how it is?

Mmhmm, that's how it is

Pardon me, lady, I must have got you mixed up with someone who used to reside at Missus, um ... what's her name?

If that's what you thought, why'd you give me them damn flowers? Why didn't you just give me some money?

Ahaha, I did

[*door slams*]

Hey, Billie, now. Hey, listen, listen, all right? You don't mind if I call you Billie, do you?

Don't call me nothing

No, listen. Listen, I know a place downtown. It's open all night. A fantastic place. You can eat. You can have food. You can dance. You can do anything you want. Now, come on, and let's go on down

Just like the late-night-supper stuff?

No, no, no, this is for real, baby. Listen, there's my car right there. We can go on right down there right now. Listen, I like you