He'd been dealt a bad hand,
Nearly fifty years old.
Cleanin' glasses, at night in a bar.
Only one good hand,
For to play him his tunes,
On a piano all tired out and marred.

((And the stone angel hung))
((On the wall up above.))
((Looked out blind,))
((All the nights long.))
((But when the one-armed man played,))
((To an empty saloon,))
((She looked down and smiled,))
((As he played her his songs.))

[Short instrumental break.]

((Duke, the white Shepherd,))
((Who guarded the room,))
((Never leavin' the back of the bar,))
((Would climb up on the stage,))
((And curl up around his feet,))
((As to guard him and his music,
((From harm.))

((And the stone angel hung))
((On the wall up above.))
((Looked out blind,))
((All the nights long.))
((But when the one-armed man played,))
((To an empty saloon,))
((She looked down and smiled,))
((As he played her his songs.))

[Instrumental break.]

((I heard him one night,))
((When he thought to be alone.))
((And I lied and I did him a wrong.))
((I can't give back the pleasure
((His music gave to me,))
((I can only give him this song.))

((He played better with one hand,))
((Than most men with two.))
((Yet made posters for all of the stars,))
((And I wish to my heart,))
((He could play for you.))
((So you'd know just how happy you are.))

((And the stone angel hung)) hung,))
((On the wall up above.))
((Looked out blind,))((And me and the big white dog,))
((All the nights long.)) stopped once to listen,))
((But when((To the one-armed man played,)) play,))
((To their smiles,))
((In an empty saloon,))
((She looked down and smiled,))
((As he played her his songs.)) saloon.))