gertrude

yeah now

gertrude

was just a one-eyed gal

workin' down in new orleans

gertrude

she's a regular pal

one of them cajun queens

soft hearted hooker in a two bit dive

a regular saint sadie - got just one eye

got a set of arms like a lumberjack

but gertrude's got a heart of gold dust

now gertrude was always on the streets

hustling up a dime or two

gertrude was nice and sweet

'specially when she's trickin' you

she could take you to the back

and in a minute flat

she'd be back drinkin' whiskey

from a water glass

laughing like a sailor on a three-day pass

gertrude was a swingin' bar fly

yeah i met her when i was runnin' about

and nobody seemed to care for me

she took me to her side

and explained the facts of life to me

she told me 'bout the world and all it's misery

she taught me how to laugh and be a friend indeed

and let the sanctimonious crowds go their way

gertrude had a way with alright

alright now

yeah she took me to the room that night

and made me feel a man again

we laughed and talked and drank and sang

then the beautiful night came to an end

i fell asleep in a broken down chair

and when i woke there was nobody there

she rolled me

but she told me in a note she left

you gotta keep makin' it