FIRST NIGHTERS
(Jack Rollins / Hank Snow)


Hank Snow - 1955



We sat at a table in Lindy's 
And I ordered up dinners for two
My guest was a grimy intruder 
Who had ask me to buy him a stew

But somehow I pitied the beggar 
So shabbily dressed and so old
And I asked him the cause of his trouble 
And this is the story he told

I know what it means to be happy 
I once had a wife and some dough
We did a trapeze act together 
And we circled the globe with a show

But long years of dangerous acting 
Had tired us of roamin' around
And this was to be our last season 
We'd pack in and stay on the ground

We'd pick out a home in the country 
And one or two kids would be swell
She lived for no one but her Larry 
And I lived for no one but Nell

We counted the days till the blow off 
And the final act now was at hand
We sat in our dressing room waiting 
And we listened, they struck up the band

We looked at each other in silence 
The last time for us to go on
We trotted out under the big top 
And she carried herself like a swan

I thought as she swung into action 
So graceful and spry as an elf
If God made a soul any sweeter 
He kept her up there for himself

Now thousands of people applauded
The regular routine was through
The singles and doubles were perfect 
Now we just had the climax to do

I still can't account for the crackup 
But God, I can picture it yet
She made a bum leave on the triple 
And I missed her and she missed the net

With Nell gone and nothin' to live for 
I let myself go to the bad
I've anchored in barrooms and hay joints 
And they took me for all that I had

At night I lay drunk in some hallway 
And dream about high bars and Nell
I see her white form coming at me 
I miss her and let out a yell

With that the poor devil quit talkin'
He shuddered and lowered his head
I shook him, but he didn't answer 
I summoned for help, he was dead

I looked at my watch, I must hurry 
I'd almost forgotten my date
Right now I was due at the Playhouse 
And opening night there at eight

So I paid for his meal and departed 
I smiled for I knew very well
While I was first nighting on Broadway 
He too was first nighting with Nell



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - September 2017)