NIGHT MISS NANCY ANN'S HOTEL FOR SINGLE GIRLS BURNED DOWN, THE
(D. Feller)


Tex Williams - 1971
Achie Campbell - 1977



Well, one night in June in the billiard room was I chalkin' up with a friend
He was set to break when the door burst open and Leo James rushed in
He yelled, "There's a fire that's just broke out and it's down at Nancy Ann's"
So we dropped our cues on the poolroom floor and into the street we ran

Though the flames were hot and the smoke was thick, not a single life was lost
And the reason for the blaze was never found
But it long will be remembered in our local history
As the fire that fairly scandalized the town
The night Miss Nancy Ann's Hotel For Single Girls burned down

When we got to the place, the front was ablaze and so was the second floor
So we cut around the side and up the alley and stopped beside the back door
We were catchin' a breath when the door flew open and knocked poor Leo flat
And out through the smoke ran Mayor Wills wearin' nothing but a black silk hat

And right behind him with his shirt tail afire came the local chief of police
And banker Jones with the red-haired girl he always said was his niece
Then I spied Miss Nancy Ann herself helpin' someone out of the fire
Her arm around the red bald head of old Judge McEntire

A deacon, a dentist, a deputy sheriff and one state congressman
The county physician, the city mortician, out through the flames they ran
The grand parade of girls in gowns and hat clad gentlemen
Through thick grey smoke that sweetly smelled of french perfume and gin

Though the flames were hot and the smoke was thick, 
not a single life was lost
And the reason for the blaze was never found
But it long will be remembered in our local history
As the fire that fairly scandalized the town
The night Miss Nancy Ann's Hotel For Single Girls burned down

Now everybody was out of the girls' hotel by the time the roof caved in
We were headin' back to the billiard hall when Leo turned to my friend
He said, "I believe that's the funniest show I've ever seen in town
The so called elite caught out in the street with their pompous purity down"

Though the flames were hot and the smoke was thick, not a single life was lost
And the reason for the blaze was never found
But it long will be remembered in our local history
As the fire that fairly scandalized the town
The night Miss Nancy Ann's Hotel For Single Girls burned down



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2020)