I'M WAITING FOR SHIPS THAT NEVER COME IN 
(Jack Yellen / Abe Olman)

Art Gilham - 1927
Franklyn Baur - 1928
Maurice J. Gunsky - 1928
Gene Krupa & His Orch. - 1940
Kay Starr - 1955
Mac Wiseman - 1956
Moon Mullican - 1958
Ernest Tubb - 1959
Jim Reeves - 1961
Also recorded by: Bing Crosby; Damita Jo; Bob Wills.


I'm waiting for ships that never come in
I wonder where they can be...

Life is only a game of poker
And "happiness" is the pot
Fate deals you five cards in the cradle
And you play, whether you like it or not

Some get a pat hand to start with
And the game doesn't seem on the square
When you look at your hand and discover
You were born without even a pair

But there's no use in kicking or squawking
Just pick up your cards and begin
To figure and plan and puzzle
While Fate looks on with a grin

Some take a chance at bluffing
And stake everything they've got
On a dinky little four-flush
And, sometimes, it wins the pot

Others will break up openers
To draw for a middle straight
They know what a chance they're taking
And they learn their mistake too late

Some can't help playing crooked
Against all good advice
But they seldom get away with it
And in the end, they'll pay the price

The most of us play straight poker
But I tell you, boys, it's hard
When you're there with both ends open
And you can't draw the winning card

Now I've always been a loser
It seems that I never can win
And I'm just a dreamer who's
Waiting for ships that never come in

I wonder where they can be