The Hustler Songtext
von Ray Stevens

It was a cool night in Dallas
At the southside nine ball palace
When I stepped in off the sidewalk
With my pool cue in my hand
I said "I′ve come for Texas Slim
We're gonna shoot nine ball me and him
And tonight we′re gonna see who is the better man."

Well I've heard he used to be the best
And I've already beaten all the rest
From New York to Chicago and L.A.
They say that he′s the king of hustlers
An old time Texas pool hall rustler
And ain′t he the man that used to say:

Never make it look too easy when you break 'em
Get all the money out on the table
Then take time to chalk and aim
Don′t take pity on 'em, southern son, just take ′em
'Cause if you can′t afford to lose
Then you should never play the game


Then out of the shadows dim
Stepped what once was Texas Slim
He was ripped, worn and ragged
Kinda rundown at the heel
He said "it's been a long time son
Since I've shot pool with anyone
But I′ll play you one game if that′s the way you feel."

He was a pitiful looking man
With a three day beard and a trembling hand
Had to take him a shot of whiskey to ease the shakes
I said "I've come to take you for all you′ve got
And it don't matter if it ain′t a lot
And just to show you I'm a sportin′ man you can have the break."

And then a smile crossed the face
Of every pool shark in that place
As slim took down his custom inlaid pool cue from its stand
He said "I've heard for days that you were comin'
With your pockets full and your young mouth runnin′
And tonight we′re gonna find out who is the better man."

Then all I heard were cue balls crack,
Nine balls fall and Slim say "Rack!"
And he kept the run till all my money was gone
And then he looked at me with those eyes of ice
And said "son I'll just leave you with this advice
To ponder as you hitchhike your way back home: "


Never make it look too easy when you break ′em
Get all the money out on the table
Then take time to chalk and aim
Don't take pity on ′em, southern son, just take 'em
′Cause if you can't afford to lose
Then you should never play the game

Never make it look too easy when you break 'em
Get all the money out on the table
Then take time to chalk and aim
Don′t take pity on ′em, southern son, just take 'em
′Cause if you can't afford to lose
Then you should never play the game