Pool Shark

Dave Dudley

About Pool Shark

"The Pool Shark" is a song written by Tom T. Hall and recorded by American country music artist Dave Dudley. It was released in February 1970 as the lead single from the album of the same name, The Pool Shark. The song was Dave Dudley's twenty-first release on the country chart and his only number one. The single stayed at the top of the country charts for one week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the chart.


Year:
2008
19 

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He said, "Pardon me for bein' so bold
But you got a cigarette that's already rolled"
I gave him one, he lit it in his own good time
The smoke in that poolroom hung like a fog
When he talked it sounded like a growling dog
He said, "Would you care for a dollar on the five or nine?"

Now this man was ugly and his eyes were mean
His clothes were dirty but his hands were clean
He held that stick like a mother holds the hand of her child
Well, I've been known to hustle a few
When the waitress said, "Was he playing you?"
And I said, "Yeah, bring me brandy water by"

Little Red Parker was way in the back taking quarters and handling racks
And I told him, "Red, come up here, glue 'em up tight
That brandy had me feeling warm, I tipped that waitress
And I checked her form
And I said, "Honey, you like a winner", and she just smiled

I played like a man with a broken wrist, I won two and he won six
And I had him set up so I said, "Let's play for five"
But this time the crowd had gathered round
To see this fish and just watch him drown
I told that waitress, "More brandy water by"

Then he went out and got a custom cue
He said, "It's no offense to you
But I don't play off the wall with nobody but friends"
He had a gold initials in a leather grip pearly and silver inlaid tip
He smiled at me and he said, "Hell-a-way, we play for ten"

Well, I never seen a man that walk who made those balls and table talk
They're speaking English, he sure didn't need my help
He broke the ball and kept that string
For a hundred and eighty seven bucks and a ring
Till I gave up and said, "Friend, you're gonna have to play by yourself"

Well, he racked it up and walked outside
And I strolled out just to watch him ride
And there was a blond in their caddy built like the rest of that car
The boys in the poolroom they had 'em a laugh
And I hung it up and just let it pass
And had nothin' but my elbows to put on the bar

And the waitress smiled said, "Water by?"
I took the charity and thanked her polite
And sittin' there sippin' and suddenly I had me a thought
Unlucky gambler and lucky in love
Guess you know what I was thinking of
When I said waitress, "Honey, what time you get off?"

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Dave Dudley

Dave Dudley (May 3, 1928 – December 22, 2003), born David Darwin Pedruska, was an American country music singer best known for his truck-driving country anthems of the 1960s and 1970s and his semi-slurred baritone. His signature song was "Six Days on the Road," and he is also remembered for "Vietnam Blues," "Truck Drivin' Son-of-a-Gun," and "Me and ol' C.B.". Other recordings included Dudley's duet with Tom T. Hall, "Day Drinking," and his own Top 10 hit, "Fireball Rolled A Seven," supposedly based on the career and death of Edward Glenn "Fireball" Roberts. more »

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Written by: BRADLEY NOWELL

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Genre
"Pool Shark" is categorized as a country song, which is a popular genre in American music.
Artist
The track was recorded by Dave Dudley, a prominent figure in the truck-driving country genre during the 1960s.
Release Year
"Pool Shark" was released in 1970, during a golden era for the American country music industry.
Chart Performance
Despite not being one of Dudley's most successful songs, "Pool Shark" performed decently on the country music charts. It peaked at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles.
Album
The song "Pool Shark" is part of the album "The Pool Shark", which featured several other popular tracks of Dave Dudley in that era.
Songwriting
The song was written by Tom T. Hall, an acclaimed American songwriter, often dubbed as “The Storyteller” because of his narrative lyrics style.
Style
"Pool Shark" embodies Dudley's quintessential musical style: mixing traditional country music elements with narratives about the experiences of long-distance truck drivers.
Theme
The song tells the story of a hustler who is challenged by the pool shark, a character in the song that illustrates a metaphor for life's challenges.
Influence
Though not Dudley’s biggest hit, “Pool Shark” is acknowledged as a quintessential old-style country music track, cherished by fans of the genre.
Recognition
This track demonstrates Dudley’s ability to bring life to characters through his songs, a feature that has contributed to his legacy in the American country music scene.
Collaboration
Dudley's collaboration with Tom T. Hall in this song highlights the successful partnerships between performers and songwriters in the country music genre.
Truck-Driving Country
The song is a part of the distinct subgenre of country known as 'truck-driving country', which Dudley was instrumental in popularizing. The song's narrative does not involve truck driving but shares the same tone and themes that are found in that subgenre.

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