[Verse 1: Swamp-rock male lead, low and heavy over swampy live drums and the fuzz guitar riff] Back room of the bait shop, it was Halloween and hot Fan was barely turnin', and the gumbo burned the pot Tall man in a black coat pulled a chair up to the game Never took his hat off, and he never gave a name Every fella folded when he looked 'em in the eye Then he said it's me and Earl, and Lord, I don't know why I was holdin' two sixes and a prayer and not a dime Ante up, he told me, so I said, mister, take your time He pushed in forty years, I pushed my pickup and my dog And he turned a busted hand as gray as river fog [Verse 2: Swamp-rock male lead, meaner, washboard and handclaps on the two and four] Mister smiled the kind of smile that makes a candle quit Said nobody beats me once, so best of three, and that is it Second hand he dealt himself, the deck was cold as clay Ace of spades came up like it was waitin' there all day He took my dog, I didn't care, that dog had never liked me much He said the third is midnight, next Halloween, and such Said ante up, and don't be late, I'll find you where you hide I said mister, I'll be there, and mister, how I lied [Hook: Swamp-rock male lead, raw bark, full band, fuzz guitar on every line] One for me, and one for you, the stranger tips his hat Best of three, but three's a game I'm never playin' at Every Halloween he knocks, and every year I say Ante up, mister, I'll play you some other day [Verse 3: Swamp-rock male lead, each card slapped on the snare, then the face-down card, one band hit, a held bar] Next year he came knockin' while I fried up catfish fine Told him I had the flu, mister, you can come back any time Year after, said the truck broke down, the year after, I had moved Every Halloween he's at the screen, and every year he's proved That a man who's up by one can't lose, a man who's tied can't fall So I keep that third card face down in the drawer out in the hall And he stands out on the porch, but he can't come in and claim What a man ain't lost yet in a never-finished game [Final Hook: Swamp-rock male lead, all the way up, full band and handclaps] One for me, and one for you, the stranger tips his hat Best of three, but three's a game I'm never playin' at Every Halloween he knocks, and every year I say Ante up, mister, I'll play you some other day [End]
