paradise lane

quickly spent all my money

at a bar on paradise lane

slipping jacks and kings to Fack

drinking gin to ease the pain

a redhead at the jukebox

tossed a glance and smile at me

but my libido was incognito

and my head was out to sea

four sheets to the wind

dreaming other people's sins

and counting on my quarters

all the places that i'd been

my hat's my only date tonight

my buddy's got the bucks

i've got a sweetheart in Chicago

who i'm counting on for luck

but it's long past midnight and i'm officially flagged

drinking shots and eating slices of that cheese tomato pie.

-- douglas brent smith