Three Jacks

Words and Music by Bobby Angel

Motorboats rumbling at the chicki bar, While you coat your throat with alcohol. Feeling real good, you slip into a daze as you turn thru the corners of the mangrove maze. Billy looks back, he is shook to the core ‘cause Tony lost his guts and there’s a man overboard

Because with three jacks you stay when you’re playing cards with your life.

No time to blink. Billy shines down the light

Wings to the wind, there’s smoke in the air. Things don’t seem right, then he spots it over there. The flames they shoot high, they black out the sun. We’ve got business to do that we haven’t begun. Then a cloud burst it blows in real fast. There’s no time to turn Jack says give it some gas

Because with three jacks you stay when you’re playing cards with your life. 

There’s no time for the meek when you’re on a fire flight.

Hoofing it by foot across a forest floor. Fire is the wall and there aren’t any doors. He touches the dirt, he puts his hand to the breeze. The crackling that he hears it’s the sound of burning trees. Somebody shouts that it’s jumped cross the line. It never looked good, it’s getting worse all the time

Because with three jacks you stay when you’re playing cards with your life.

There ain’t no rest for the weary boys when there’s a fire to fight

His heart’s for the one wrapped around his ring, His Spade he wears low he ain’t no suicide king, And Diamonds in his eyes when others lose sight: Don’t worry ‘bout Jack cause he’ll be alright. Because when the fire roared he drew a line in the sand, And when the sky fought back he found a way to land, And when Jack sank down he and grabbed Billy’s hand

“I’m OK” Jack said, “Everyone’s safe. Let’s carry on as planned.

Because with three jacks you stay when you’re playing cards with your life.