Grizzly Jack

by Kray Van Kirk

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Standard tuning

Once there was a gambler, Grizzly Jack by name
A student of the cards he was, a master of the game
To win or lose, he set aside, his first love was the play
He took the cards as they were dealth, and softly he did say

Lady Luck come dance with me
Lady Luck come sing with me
Lady Luck spin me, across your fated floor
That's just how the game is played
I tell you that I wouldn't trade
My life for one that's already done

One day into town there rode a stranger old and grey
And by the time that evening came, they all sat down to play
The others folded one by one, 'till he and Jack alone
Dealt a final hand inside a room as still as stone

And then the stranger calmly played his cards one at a time
The queen of spades, the jack of hearts, the ten, the eight, the nine
and Jack he knew the game was up, he only had three kings
He stared down at the stranger's hand, began to softly sing

Lady Luck come dance with me
Lady Luck come sing with me
Lady Luck spin me, across your fated floor
That's just how the game is played
I tell you that I wouldn't trade
My life for one that's already done

But Lady Luck had gone away so Jack he took his stand
And when he laid his cards down there were four kings in his hand
The stranger looked up grimly, said maybe we should check
But I believe the real king still lies buried in the deck

So he rose up swiftly and Jack he stood as well
The bullet caught him through the heart and to the floor he fell
We buried him upon the hill, early in the day
And carved upon his marker what we always heard him say

Lady Luck come dance with me tonight...
Grizzly Jack come dance, and hold me tight...

Lady Luck come dance with me
Lady Luck come sing with me
Lady Luck spin me, across your fated floor
That's just how the game is played
I tell you that I wouldn't trade
My life for one that's already done