Dead Man’s Hand

[Verse 1]
Johnny Samartino and his 3rd wife Kate
Took a backpack full of money to the Seaside Arcade
To meet a man from Teaneck that said he'd get 'em paid
That they should just relax and learn to trust him
Said he put some on the ponies that were runnin' upstate
Had a secret about a filly that was gonna break late
The other part he'd double, but he didn't wanna have to say
The way that he was gonna have to do it
Johnny looked at Katie and gave a little shrug
Katie flashed a smile and gave that Teaneck man a hug
He said, "My name's Domenico, but my friends all call me Doug"
Said he could have their money back by Monday
They watched him walk away and went to have a drink
Eight hundred thousand dollars was all that they could think
If it all works out quicker than a liar learns to blink
They could be home free and send the kids to college

[Chorus]
Hold on as long as you can
'Cause now you're playin'
Playin' with a dead man's hand

[Verse 2]
They woke up early Sunday for the grand occasion
It wouldn't matter soon with all the money they'd be makin'
Johnny threw out all his razors 'cause there ain't no sense in shavin'
Once you've told that old boss man where he could shove it
Katie stood there smilin' and lit a cigarette
Put some bacon on a biscuit and turned on the TV set
It was early in the mornin' and the race hadn't started yet
But a man came on with news he said was breakin'
Said a man from Teaneck had gotten tied up with the mob
He needed half a million dollars just to pay all his debts off
Found him dead in some back alley behind the gamblin' hall
Holdin' on to nothin' but a backpack that was empty
Katie cried, "Oh, Johnny, all our money's gone
That's everything we had, there's nothin' even left to pawn
I guess we should put a "for sale" sign out there on the lawn
And just get the most we can and get to runnin'"

[Chorus]
Hold on as long as you can
'Cause now you're playin' with a dead man
Hold on as long as you can
'Cause now you're playin'
Playin' with a dead man's hand

[Verse 3]
Johnny said, "Don't worry, I think I've got a plan"
That's the famous last words spoken by every desperate man
Kissed her goodbye with a .38 in his right hand
And a rusty crow bar swingin' from the other
Katie didn't hear a word for forty-eight long hours
Then news broke about a mob boss gettin' gunned down in the shower
They thought it could be revenge by some other gang for power
But the police on the TV acted nervous
A single .38 shot to the head there at the scene
Found an old revolver that appeared to be wiped clean
A crowbar by the toilet, they weren't sure what that could mean
And said they'd let us know throughout the investigation
She heard Johnny's car, so she ran out on the steps
Had a backpack in his right hand and twelve red roses in his left
He kissed her and said, "I love you, aw, but I think it could be best
If maybe we just headed west and went to Kansas"

[Chorus]
Hold on as long as you can
'Cause now you're playin' with a dead man's hand
Hold on as long as you can
'Cause now you're playin'
Playin' with a dead man's hand

[Post-Chorus]
You're playin' with a dead man's hand