Snake Eyes

(album: City Lights - 1978)

There was a time when the earth
Was at peace, along came man
And he began to change the plan

All you high rollers and you low riders
All you wise eggs, who lie, steal and beg
Lemme try and wizen you snakes
I know you never give a sucker an even shake
Gather round this table
Leastwise all who is able
Free love tripsters and
Street wise hipster
Don't try to be funny
Show your money
Better heed the tale of the snake eyes' trail

You want to pass do you want to play
You want to raise do you want to stay
The game is survive
You gotta ante up your life
The stakes is high
Once you in you know you're in 'til you die
You live in a jungle
Dealing with life is always a struggle
When you live by the burn
You know you out by your turn
When you live by your wit
It's a game that you can't quit
When you find out there's love in your heart
It's the one part that never ever be bought

Better heed the tale of the snake eyes' trail

Free thinker is a threat
To a handcuffed mind
Life-actors in a play
That's free for the time
You gotta pin it, if you expect to win it
Don't cha peep your hole-card
Better throw it out in the junk-yard
Ain't no limit no gimmick
Just gimme your money
Talking to all you hustlers and hoboes
All you rustlers with your mojoes
When they ask you for help
Tell 'em to help theyself
When they ask whose turf it is
Tell 'em it's everybody's earth yes it is

When you set in a cell and then you suffer like hell
All for the wants they wanna see you on the end of a rope
You down and you weary and broke
And your dreams they done gone up in smoke
All you want is to cope
Lord they want to see you on the end of a rope
Remember the tale of the snake eyes' trail
Whether you out on the streets whether you're stuck in a jail
Whether your stakes is short or too tall
In the end you gonna win whether you lose whether raise of whether you call
Live your life full and when the chips may fall

In the end the ground and the grasses gonna gather it all
Heed the tale of the snake eyes' trail