Face On the Bar Room Floor
D'Arcy 1877 poem, Central City Colorado
Lake Fork Verne and his banjo. Original country and Americana songs. Songs of yesteryear, growing up during the great depression 1930's and the way things are
Just me and my banjo...writing and singing about how things used to be long ago in the 30;s and 40's and how those experiences affect today. I started out wanting to get on record these stories and songs for my grandchildren; but after doing it for a while, others have expresses interest so we are recording and putting them out there.
Lyrics
Face On the Bar Room Floor
by Hugh Antoine D'Arcy
Central City Colorado 1887
Copyright by: Verne Garrison
May 6, 2009, Valley Park, Mo
Banjo tuned to E, Capo 2, Key of
Face On the Bar Room Floor [A part of the story]
D
"I was working on a portrait, one afternoon in May,
A
Of a fair-haired boy, a friend of mine, who lived across the way.
D G D
And my Madeline admired it, and much to my surprise,
A D
Said she’d like to know the man that had such dreamy eyes.
G D
"It took not long to know him and before the month had flown,
A D
My friend, he, stole my darling. And I was left alone.
G D
Ere the years of sadness have passed upon my head.
A D
The jewel I loved, so tarnished, faded. Now, my love is dead.
G D
"Thats why I took to drinking. Why, I never saw a smile.
A
I thought you’d be amused, and laughing all the while.
D G D
My friends…why, there are teardrops in your eyes.
A D
Laugh, like me. Its only babes and women who should cry.
G D
"Say, give me that chalk with which you mark the baseball score,
A
And you’ll see the lovely Madeline upon this barroom floor.
D G D
If you’ll just give me another drink, I will be very glad
A D
To draw, right here, the picture of the face that drove me mad."
G D
Another drink…and with the chalk, the vagabond began
A
to sketch the face that well might buy the soul of any man.
D G D
Then as he placed another lock upon the shapely head,
A D
With fearful shriek, he leaped and fell across the picture…dead.
And that is the story of
A
The face on the bar room floor
Twas Hughies love
D
There for all to adore
