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.))
((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.))
((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,))
((On the wall up above.))
((And me and the big white dog,))
((All stopped once to listen,))
((To the one-armed man play,))
((To their smiles,))
((In an empty saloon.))