"Cabaret Card" lyrics - MOSE ALLISON

When you live in New York City
You know that times are usually hard
When you live in New York City
You know that times are usually hard
To make a bad situation awful
I had to go and lose my cabaret card

Policeman came to my house
Said your name is Johnson, PJ.
Policeman came to my house
Said your name is Johnson, P.J.
"Well we know you've been in trouble
Gonna have to take your card away"

Well, I said please Mr. Policeman
Things are bad enough
I got a wife and six children
He said, "Buster, that's tough."

When you live in New York City
It's money, money all the time
I had to pay five hundred dollars
For a little piece of paper
Didn't cost a dime