Annie Gallup — Pearl Street

Jack was good with horses
He worked trails in Michigan
To watch him ride that Bay
Took my breath away
Although there were better looking men

My sister Betsi’s husband Dean grew up with Jack
The night Kentucky kicked me
Jack kept pouring whiskey
Until I got my sense of humor back

Kept pouring whiskey
Soft hay in the barn
Baby I remember
Your long skinny arms

Night at Wither’s Tavern
Playing songs for pints of beer
Jack played Paint it Black
And Betsi sang the backup
With a finger in her ear

Then we had that hailstorm
Half the crew got caught
When Jack and Betsi’s horses
Came home riderless of course
We all had our own thoughts

We all had our own thoughts
Waiting out the storm
Maybe I was thinking too much
About those long skinny arms

Betsi took the baby
Left Dean with the horses
He sold a tract of land
And grew some contraband
Barely covered the divorce

Jack found work in Tennessee
Took off heading south
Ooh yeah and I
Just lay awake all night
Thinking about the curve of Jack’s mouth

Lay awake all night
Ceiling spinning around
Man I remember
Those long skinny arms

Jack was out of touch so long
I gave him up for dead
Then Betsi said he’s phoned
From north of San Antonio
In a government hospital bed

I bought an old ford pinto
I took a job in town
Feel so much older
All my friends got sober
I have to drink with strangers now

I drink with strangers
Faceless in the dark
Drinking to remember
Those long skinny arms
Babe, I still remember