Townes Van Zandt
Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold (Live at the Old Quarter)
[Verse 1]
Well the wicked King of Clubs awoke
It was to his Queen he turned
His lips were laughing as they spoke
His eyes like bullets burned
[Verse 2]
The sun's upon a gambling day
His Queen smiled low and blissfully
Let's make some wretched fool to pay
Plain it was she did agree
[Verse 3]
He sent his Deuce down into Diamond
His Four to Heart, and his Trey to Spade
Three Kings with their legions come
And preparations soon where made
[Verse 4]
They voted Club the day's commander
Give him an army, face and number
All but the outlaw Jack of Diamonds
And the Aces in the sky
[Verse 5]
Well, he gave his Sevens first instructions
Spirit me a game of stud
Stakes unscarred by limitation
'Tween a man named Gold and man named Mudd
[Verse 6]
And Club filled Gold with greedy vapors
Till his long, green eyes did glow
And Mudd was left with the sighs and trembles
Watching his hard earned money go
[Verse 7]
Flushes fell on Gold like water
Tens they paired and paired again
But the Aces only flew through heaven
And the Diamond Jack called no man friend
[Verse 8]
The Diamond Queen saw Mudd's ordeal
Began to think of her long lost son
Fell to her knees with a mother's mercy
And prayed to the angels every one
[Verse 9]
The Diamond Queen, she prayed and prayed
And the Diamond Angel filled Mudd's hole
And the wicked King of Clubs himself
Fell face down in front of Gold
[Verse 10]
Now, three Kings come to Clubs command
But the angels from the sky did ride
Three Kings up on the streets of Gold
Three fireballs on the muddy side
[Verse 11]
The Club Queen heard her husband's call
But Lord, that Queen of Diamond's joy
When the outlaw in the heavenly hall
Turned out to be her wandering boy
[Verse 12]
Now, Mudd he checked and Gold bet all
And Mudd he raised and Gold did call
And that smile just melted on his face
When Mudd turned over that Diamond Ace
[Verse 13]
Now, here's what this story's told
If you feel like Mudd, you'll end up Gold
Feel like lost, you'll end up found
So amigo, lay them raises down