Lily Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
Joan Baez Lyrics

The festival was over and the boys were all planning for a fall
The event or party had ended, and the young men were preparing for a downfall or a difficult time ahead.

The cabaret was quiet except for the drilling in the wall
The nightclub or entertainment venue was calm, with minimal noise except for the sound of construction work happening nearby.

The curfew had been lifted and the gambling wheel shut down
The time restriction on being out in public had ended, but the opportunity for gambling had ceased.

Anyone with any sense had already left town
Those who were wise or sensible had already departed from the area.

He was standing in the doorway lookin' like the Jack of Hearts
He stood at the entrance, resembling the Jack of Hearts from a deck of cards, perhaps suggesting he had a charismatic or enigmatic presence.

He moved across the mirrored room, 'Set ?em up for everyone', he said
He traversed the room filled with mirrors and instructed others to prepare drinks for everyone present.

Then everyone commenced to do what they've been doin' before he moved their heads
As soon as he spoke, everyone resumed their previous actions or behaviors, as if he had merely influenced their thoughts.

He walked up to a stranger and he asked him with a grin
Confidently, he approached an unfamiliar person and inquired playfully, wearing a smile on his face.

'Would you kindly tell me, Mister, what time the show begins?'
'Could you please inform me, sir, about the commencement time of the performance?'

He moved into the corner, face down like the Jack of Hearts
He relocated to a secluded area, lowering his head in a manner reminiscent of the Jack of Hearts card.

Backstage the girls were playin' five-card stud by the stairs
Behind the scenes, the women were engaged in a game of five-card stud poker near the staircase.

Lily had two queens and she was hopin' for a third to match her pair
Lily possessed two queen cards and anticipated drawing another one to complete a triplet.

Outside the streets were fillin' up and the window was open wide
Meanwhile, the streets were becoming crowded, and a window was wide open, allowing the outside atmosphere to permeate the room.

The gentle breeze was blowin', you could feel it from inside
A mild wind was blowing, and its presence could be sensed even from within the enclosed space.

Lily called another bet and drew up the Jack of Hearts
Lily made another wager and fortuitously received the Jack of Hearts card.

Big Jim was no one's fool, he owned the town's only diamond mine
Big Jim was a shrewd individual who possessed the exclusive diamond mine in the town.

He made his usual entrance lookin' oh, so dandy and so fine
He presented himself in his typical stylish and impressive manner, exuding elegance and sophistication.

With his bodyguards and his silver cane and every hair in place
Accompanied by his security personnel and using a silver walking stick, he ensured that his appearance was impeccable in every aspect.

He took whatever he wanted to and he laid it all to waste
He seized anything he desired and recklessly squandered it without any regard.

But his bodyguards and his silver cane were no match for the Jack of Hearts
However, his bodyguards and his elegant accessories were powerless against the Jack of Hearts' influence or abilities.

Rosemary combed her hair and took a carriage into town
Rosemary tidied her hair and traveled to the town by carriage.

She slipped in through the side door lookin' like a queen without a crown
Discreetly, she entered through the side entrance, resembling a regal figure despite lacking a formal symbol of royalty.

She fluttered her false eyelashes and whispered in his ear
She batted her fake eyelashes and spoke softly in his ear, as if sharing an intimate secret.

'I'm sorry, darlin', that I'm late', but he didn't seem to hear
'Apologies, my dear, for my tardiness,' she said, yet he appeared oblivious or inattentive to her words.

He was staring into space over at the Jack of Hearts
He fixated his gaze in a distant manner, directed towards the Jack of Hearts.

Well, I know I've seen that face somewhere
Well, I am familiar with that face, as if I have encountered it in another place or time.

Big Jim was thinkin' to himself
Big Jim was pondering silently, deep in his own thoughts.

Maybe down in Mexico or a picture up on somebody's shelf
Perhaps in Mexico or as a depiction displayed on a shelf, he speculated where he could have previously seen that face.

But then the crowd began to stamp their feet
However, at that moment, the crowd initiated a rhythmical stomping of their feet as a collective action.

And the house lights did dim
Simultaneously, the lights within the building dimmed or became less bright.

And in the darkness of the room there was only Jim and him
Amidst the obscurity enveloping the room, only Jim and the person he was fixated upon remained visible or discernible.

Starin' at the butterfly who just drew up the Jack of Hearts
They stared intensely at the butterfly, symbolic of a mysterious figure, who had just obtained the Jack of Hearts card.

Lily was a princess, she was fair-skinned and precious as a child
Lily possessed qualities similar to those of a princess, including her fair complexion and her exquisiteness reminiscent of a young child.

She had that certain something
She possessed a unique and captivating quality.

It was a kind of a flash every time she smiled
Her smile had a distinct impact or effect, similar to a sudden brilliance or a burst of light.

She'd come away from a broken home, had lots of strange affairs
She had distanced herself from a disrupted or dysfunctional family environment, engaging in numerous unconventional romantic relationships.

With men in every walk of life who took her everywhere
She associated with men from various backgrounds or professions who whisked her away to different places.

But she'd never met anyone quite like the Jack of Hearts
However, she had never encountered an individual who resembled or possessed the same allure as the Jack of Hearts.

The hangin' judge came in unnoticed and was being wined and dined
The judge responsible for issuing death sentences entered the scene inconspicuously and was being entertained with food and drinks.

The drilling in the wall kept up but no one seemed to pay it any mind
Although the sound of drilling in the wall persisted, everyone appeared to disregard or ignore it.

It was known all around that Lily had Jim's ring
It was widely recognized or rumored that Lily possessed a ring belonging to Jim.

And nothin' could ever come between Lily and the king
No external force or entity could possibly disrupt or damage the bond or connection between Lily and the king.

No, nothing ever could except maybe the Jack of Hearts
However, there was a single exception, potentially the Jack of Hearts could pose a threat to their relationship.

Rosemary started drinkin' hard and seein' her reflection in the knife
Rosemary began consuming alcohol excessively and contemplating her own reflection by observing it in a knife blade.

She was tired of the attention, tired of playin' the role of Big Jim's wife
She had grown weary of the constant focus on her and the obligation to fulfill her role as Big Jim's spouse.

She'd done a lot of bad things, even once tried suicide
She had engaged in numerous immoral or unethical actions, and at one point, even attempted to end her own life.

Was lookin' to do just one good deed before she died
However, she now sought to perform a single act of kindness or benevolence before her eventual demise.

She was gazin' to the future, riding on the Jack of Hearts
She was contemplating what lay ahead, envisioning her future journey or destiny intertwined with the Jack of Hearts.

Lily took her dress off, buried it away
Lily removed her dress and concealed it somewhere, hiding it from sight.

'Has your luck run out', she laughed at him
'Has your fortune or favorable circumstances come to an end?' she jokingly taunted him.

'I guess you must've known it would someday
'I presume you were aware that such an outcome would eventually occur.

Be careful not to touch the wall, there's a brand-new coat of paint
Exercise caution to avoid touching the wall, as it has been freshly coated with paint.

I'm glad to see you're still alive and you're lookin' like a saint'
It pleases me to witness that you remain alive and appear remarkably virtuous or righteous.

Down the hallway footsteps were comin' for the Jack of Hearts
Down the hallway, approaching footsteps were intended for the Jack of Hearts, suggesting impending danger or interference.

The backstage manager was pacing all around by his chair
The manager in charge of the backstage area anxiously walked back and forth near his seat.

'There's something funny goin' on, I know, I can just feel it in the air'
'An unusual or suspicious situation is unfolding, I can sense it purely based on the atmospheric vibes.

He went to get the hangin' judge but the hangin' judge was drunk
He went to fetch the judge responsible for carrying out executions, but unfortunately, the judge was intoxicated.

And the leading actor hurried by in the costume of a monk
Simultaneously, the principal actor hurried past in the attire of a monk.

But there was no actor anywhere better than the Jack of Hearts
Yet, there was no actor present who surpassed the Jack of Hearts in terms of skill or performance ability.

Lily had her arms around the man that she dearly loved to touch
Lily embraced the man whom she greatly loved and desired to physically connect with.

She forgot all about the man she hated, who hounded her so much
In that moment, she completely disregarded the man who she despised and who persistently pursued her.

'I've missed you so', she said to him and he thought she was sincere
'I have longed for your presence,' she expressed genuinely, leading him to believe her words were heartfelt and truthful.

But in the hallway he felt jealousy and fear
However, while in the hallway, he experienced a combination of envy and apprehension.

Just another night in the life of the Jack of Hearts
This was merely an additional evening in the existence of the enigmatic Jack of Hearts.

Well, no one knew the circumstance
Well, nobody was aware of the specific details or situation.

But they say it happened pretty quick
However, it is rumored or suggested that the sequence of events unfolded rapidly.

The door to the dressing room burst open and a cold revolver clicked
The dressing room door abruptly swung open, revealing someone armed with a cold or unfeeling revolver.

And Big Jim was standin' there, you couldn't say surprised
Big Jim was positioned in that space, and his expression did not display any signs of astonishment.

Rosemary right beside him, steady in her eyes
Rosemary was situated directly next to him, displaying unwavering determination in her gaze.

She was with Big Jim but she was leanin' to the Jack of Hearts
Although she was in the company of Big Jim, her emotions or inclination appeared to be leaning toward the Jack of Hearts.

Two doors down and the boys finally made it through the wall
Just two doors away, the young men ultimately succeeded in breaking through the barrier or obstacle.

Cleaned out the bank safe, it's said that they got off with quite a haul
They completely emptied the safe within the bank, reportedly escaping with a significant amount of stolen goods.

And in the darkness of the riverbed, they waited on the ground
In the obscurity of the riverbed, they patiently remained stationed on the ground.

For one more member who had business back in town
They awaited the arrival of another accomplice who had unfinished matters to attend to in the town.

But they couldn't go no further without the Jack of Hearts
However, they were unable to progress any further without the involvement or presence of the Jack of Hearts.

Well, the next day was hangin' day
The subsequent day was designated for executions by hanging.

And the sky was overcast and black
The sky was gloomy and devoid of light, covered with dark and heavy clouds.

Big Jim lay covered up, killed by a penknife in the back
Big Jim lay lifeless, concealed by a covering, having been fatally stabbed in the back with a small knife.

And Rosemary on the gallows, boy, she didn't even blink
Rosemary stood on the gallows, facing her impending hanging, and astonishingly, she did not even flinch or show any signs of fear.

And the hangin' judge was sober, Lord, he hadn't had a drink
The judge responsible for overseeing the hangings was in a state of sobriety, having refrained from consuming any alcohol.

And the only person on the scene missing was the Jack of Hearts
The sole individual who was absent from the whole situation was the enigmatic Jack of Hearts.

Well, the cabaret was quiet now and a sign said, 'Closed for repair'
Presently, the cabaret was tranquil, and a sign indicated that it was temporarily closed for maintenance or improvements.

Lily had already taken all of the dye out of her hair
Lily had already removed all the artificial color from her hair, returning it to its natural state.

She was thinkin' 'bout her father whom she very rarely saw
She contemplated her father, whom she seldom had the opportunity to see or spend time with.

Thinkin' about Rosemary and thinkin' about the law
She reflected on Rosemary and considered the legal implications or consequences of their actions.

But most of all she was thinkin' 'bout the Jack of Hearts
Above all else, her thoughts were predominantly occupied by the Jack of Hearts.