DEUCES WILD
(Barr / Laine / Oatman)
Frankie Laine - 1962


(Deuces wild, deuces wild)
He came my way to play the game
(Up and down the river, lookin' all the while)
For a man who plays poker with deuces wild
(He's the man who plays poker with deuces wild)

When I was just a lad, before I turned bad
No more than the age of ten
I heard my poor Ma, pleading with my Pa
"Please don't go gamblin' again"

Well-known in New Orleans, and along the river streams
As destiny's gamblin' child
And tattooed on his arm he had a good luck charm
The words were deuces wild

Deuces wild, deuces wild
He came my way to play the game
(He's the man who plays poker with deuces wild)

Soon he disappeared, and then through the years
My ma slowly died in shame
And so as I was leavin', I swore that I'd get even
With him who gave me my name

So I began to deal on the Memphis Keel
Who's captain sure liked my style
Revenge was in my will, I had to find and kill
The man with deuces wild

Cut a card, played it hard
Makin' myself a name
(He's the man who plays poker with deuces wild)

Many years had past, and I lived 'em fast
My search set my soul on fire
They knew me up and down in every levee town
As one with a crazy desire

And with my own two hands, I had to break the man
Who gambled with such a smile
I would put a bullet through the man with that tattoo
Who sure loved deuces wild

Up and down the river
Looking all the while
For a man who plays poker with deuces wild
(He's the man who plays poker with deuces wild)

One day I played a hand with killer Fitzy Dan
Who came up from Mobile way
When he saw he was beaten, he said that I was cheatin'
His gun quickly pushed the cards away

As I heard the bullets scream, an old Jim stepped between
He looked up and smiled, then died
And tattoed on his arm, I saw a good luck charm
The words were deuces wild

Deuces wild, deuces wild
He came my way to play the game
Cut a card, played it hard
Makin' myself a name

Up and down the river
Lookin' all the while
For a man who plays poker with deuces wild



(Transcribed by Monique Adriaansen & Mel Priddle - April 2004)