Christmas card from a hooker in Minneapolis

hey charlie i'm pregnant and living on the 9th street
right above a dirty bookstore of euclid avenue
and i stopped takin dope and i quit drinkin whiskey
and my old man plays the trombone and works out at the track
and he says that he loves me even though its not his baby
and he says that he'll raise him up like he would his own son
and he gave me a ring that was worn by his mother
and he takes me out dancin every saturday night.

and hey charlie i think about you everytime i pass a fillin station
om account of all the grease you used to wear in your hair
and i still have that record of little anthony & the imperials
but someone stole my record player now how do you like that?
hey charlie i almost went crazy after mario got busted
so i went back to omaha to live with my folks
but everyone i used to know was either dead or in prison
so i came back to minneapolis this time i think i'm gonna stay.

hey charlie i think i'm happy for the first time since my accident
and i wish i had all the money that we used to spend on dope
i'd buy me a used car lot and i wouldn't sell any of em
i'd just drive a different car every day, dependin on how
i feel

hey charlie for chrissakes do you want to know the
truth of it? i don't have a husband
he don't play the trombone and i need to borrow money
to pay this lawyer and charlie, hey i'll be eligible for parole
come valentines day


Tom Waits