Jazz in the Alley

Lyrics

Verse 1
Jazz in the alley, smoke in his coat
Three stray cats circling, fur all soaked
He leans on the brick, lets the night get thin
Like he knows every bad hand he’s ever been in

Bourbon at the bar, amber and mean
Coins on the felt, and a grin too clean
He says, “Rack ’em up,” with a paper-thin lie
And a lucky little flick in the corner of his eye

Pre-Chorus
Hear that pocket change
Hit the wood
Every little gamble
Feels too good
He’s got the room
In his back pocket
One more shot
And he can’t stop it

Chorus
Jazz in the alley
Jazz in the alley
He lives on the edge
And he likes it that way

Jazz in the alley
Jazz in the alley
One hand on the money
One hand on the flame

Verse 2
Pool hall ceiling with a yellowing fan
He banks that eight like a preacher can
Cue chalk on his thumb, luck on his tongue
Every loser in the room knows he’s already won

He drains one glass, then he drains one more
Laughs like trouble at the swinging door
Outside, those cats still scratch and spit
He tips his hat to the chaos of it

Pre-Chorus
Hear that pocket change
Hit the wood
Every little gamble
Feels too good
He’s got the room
In his back pocket
One more shot
And he can’t stop it

Chorus
Jazz in the alley
Jazz in the alley
He lives on the edge
And he likes it that way

Jazz in the alley
Jazz in the alley
One hand on the money
One hand on the flame

Bridge
He ain’t looking for saving
He’s not asking why
Just a lit match grin
And a hard-earned eye
If the dawn comes early
Let it come and go
He’ll still be counting
What the dark boy owed

Chorus
Jazz in the alley
Jazz in the alley
He lives on the edge
And he likes it that way

Jazz in the alley
Jazz in the alley
One hand on the money
One hand on the flame