Dead Man's Hand

(album: Wings On My Shoes - 2022)

Johnny Samartino and his 3rd wife Kate
Took a backpack full of money to the Seaside Arcade
To meet a man from Teaneck that said he'd get them paid
They should just relax and learn to trust him
Said he put some on the ponies that were running upstate
He had a secret about a filly that was gonna break late
The other part he'd double but he didn't wanna have to say
The way that he was gonna have to do it
Johnny looked at Katie and gave a little shrug
Katie flashed a smile and gave that Teaneck man a hug
He said, "My name's Domenico but my friends all call me Doug"
Said he could have their money back by Monday
They watched him walk away then went to have a drink
$800,000 was all that they could think
And if it all works out quicker than a liar learns to blink
They'd be home free and send the kids to college

Hold on as long as you can
Cause now you're playing, playing with a dead man's hand

They woke up early Sunday for the grand occasion
Wouldn't matter soon with all the money they'd be making
Johnny threw out all his razors cause there ain't no sense in shaving
Once you've told that old boss man where he can shove it
Katie stood there smiling and lit a cigarette
Put some bacon on a biscuit and turned on the TV set
It was early in the morning and the race hadn't started yet
When a man came on with news he said was breaking
Said a man from Teaneck had gotten tied up with the mob
Needed half a million dollars just to pay all his debts off
Found him dead in some back alley behind the gambling hall
Holding on to nothing but a backpack that was empty
Katie cried, "Oh Johnny all our money's gone. That's
Everything we had there's nothing even left to pawn
Maybe we should put a for sale sign out there on the lawn
Just get the most we can and get to running."

Hold on as long as you can
Cause now you're playing with a dead man
Hold on as long as you can
Cause now you're playing, playing with a dead man's hand

Johnny said, "Don't worry, I think I've got a plan."
That's the famous last words spoken by every desperate man
Kissed her goodbye with a .38 in his right hand
And a rusty crow bar swinging from the other
Katie didn't hear a word for 48 long hours
Then news broke about a mob boss getting gunned down in the shower
Thought it could be revenge by some other gang for power
But the police on the TV acted nervous
A single .38 shot to the head there at the scene
They found an old revolver but it appeared to be wiped clean
A crowbar by the toilet they weren't sure what that could mean
But they'd let us know throughout the investigation
She heard Johnny's car so she ran out on the steps
Had a backpack in his right had and 12 red roses in his left
Kissed her and said, "I love you but I think it would be best
If maybe we just headed west and went to Kansas."

Hold on as long as you can
Cause now you're playing with a dead man's hand
Hold on as long as you can
Cause now you're playing, playing with a dead man's hand

You're playing with a dead man's hand