My love and I were at the bar
When the King of Hearts came in
He save her a rose right under my nose
And my troubles did begin
My troubles did begin

With his red rose in her left hand
My love was hypnotized
He danced her out that swinging door
Right before my eyes
Right before my eyes

I ran out into the road
But all that I could find
Was a golden band from her left hand
That she had left behind
That she had left behind

For three long nights awake I watched
Awaiting her return
for three long days I gazed and gazed
Until my eyes did burn
Until my eyes did burn

For three long week. I did not sleep
Nor even eat a meal
While the bitter wind seemed to sing
"You got a rotten deal,
You got a rotten deal"

For three long years I've shed no tears
Nor tried to fix the blame
I played and lost, and paid the cost
For being in the game
For being in the game

But sometimes when I see a rose
I pick it where it stands
I marvel at the way it glows
Then I crush
I crush it in my hands

Oh. the King of Hearts is a desperate card
And the swiftest in the pack
He took my queen. neat and clean
And he never gave her back
He never gave her back

© 1982 Paul Kaplan