Ace in the Hole
Paul Simon Lyrics

Some people say Jesus that's the ace in the hole
Many believe that Jesus is their ultimate support and hope, but I cannot personally attest to this as I have never met him.

But I never met the man so I don't really know
As I have not had the opportunity to meet Jesus, I cannot confidently confirm or refute his effectiveness as an ace in the hole.

Maybe some Christmas if I'm sick and alone
Perhaps during a lonely and difficult time, such as Christmas while I am ill, Jesus will come to my aid.

He will look up my number
He will somehow know how to reach me or provide guidance when I need it most.

Call me on the phone and say
Jesus may communicate with me in a personal and direct manner, such as through a phone call.

Hey, boy, where you been so long
Jesus may ask me where I have been and why I have not contacted him sooner, implying that he has been waiting for me.

Don't you know me
He reminds me that he is acquainted with me and has been there for me in the past.

I'm your ace in the hole
Jesus is my dependable and supportive figure who will always come to my aid when needed.

Two hundred dollars, that's my ace in the hole
When I am in desperate and vulnerable situations, I rely on a stash of $200 which acts as an emergency fund.

When I'm down, dirty and desperate
This emergency fund provides assistance when I am in a difficult and desperate state, and may not have any other resources to rely on.

That's my emergency bank roll (I got)
This $200 amount is what I consider to be my backup savings, accumulated for situations of poverty or destitution.

Two hundred dollars, that's the price on the street
Although $200 is my personal savings amount, it can also be the price for purchasing drugs or illicit substances on the street.

If you want to get some quality
In order to obtain high quality drugs, $200 is the monetary amount that must be met as per the seller's standards.

That's the price you got to meet (and the man says)
The seller establishes $200 as a non-negotiable price for obtaining high quality drugs, and expects payment in full.

Hey, Junior, where you been so long
The drug dealer may recognize me from my absence and inquire about my whereabouts.

Once I was crazy and my ace in the hole
At a point in time when I was not in the right state of mind, my strategy to cope and maintain control was to acknowledge my mental instability.

Was that I knew that I was crazy
I accepted and recognized the fact that I was struggling with mental health, allowing me to exercise self-control and avoid losing it.

So I never lost my self-control
Knowing and embracing my own instability prevented me from reaching a point of instability and ensured that I could manage my mental health.

I just walk in the middle of the road and
When I was facing mental turmoil, I found that walking aimlessly on the road provided me with a sense of grounding and stability.

I sleep in the middle of the bed
Similarly, sleeping in the middle of the bed allowed me to feel centered and balanced.

I stop in the middle of a sentence
I experienced moments of abrupt silence during my conversations or speech, which helped me to reflect and pause when necessary.

And the voice in the middle of my head said
There was an internal voice within me which guided and offered insight as I struggled with mental health issues.

Ace in the hole
Refers to a reliable, trustworthy and dependable form of support or backup.

Lean on me
Symbolic support or a helpful presence that can assist in overcoming challenges or obstacles.

I'm your guarantee
Acts as an assurance or promise that the person can rely on and trust for assistance or support during difficult times.

Riding on this rolling bus
Travelling on a bus that is continuously moving forward and covering distance.

Beneath a stony sky
The sky appears cold, indifferent and unchanging, with an empty or barren atmosphere.

With a slow moon rising
The moon is slowly ascending or gaining in height, which may symbolize a journey or progress of some sort.

And the smokestacks drifting by
The stacks of smoke from industrial factories or buildings pass and disappear from view, representing fleeting or transient moments.

In the hour when the heart is weak
The time of day or moment when the emotional state and capacity for dealing with intense feelings and emotions is vulnerable or low.

And the memory is strong
The recollection of memories or past events feels more vivid, poignant or impactful at this time.

When time has stopped
The sensation that time is suspended or has come to a halt, possibly due to emotional intensity or personal struggles.

And the bus just rolls along
Despite the internal turmoil or vulnerability, the bus keeps moving forward and covering distance at its own pace.

Roll on, roll on
The repetition emphasizes the steady pace and frequent stops and experiences that occur while travelling by bus.

Some people say music that's their ace in the hole
Music is a dependable and supportive force that some people rely on heavily for comfort, expression, and stability.

Just your ordinary rhythm and blues
Even common or usual types of music such as rhythm and blues can be incredibly powerful and useful for providing support.

You can sit on the top of the beat
One can move or dance mainly to the uppermost layer of the music which carries the melody or tune.

You can lean on the side of the beat
One may find support or comfort in moving in coordination with the instrumental or background parts of the music as opposed to the main melody.

You can hang from the bottom of the beat
One may move or dance with the lowest or deepest rhythmic layer of the music, which can be an unconventional and unique style.

But you got to admit that the music is sweet
Regardless of how one moves or appreciates the music, it is generally agreed upon that music is always melodious, enjoyable and a universal language of expression.

Hey, Junior, I'm your ace in the hole
A reassuring reminder that somebody reliable and trustworthy is always available for support and assistance during challenging times.

Hey, Junior, where you been so long
An expression of surprise or curiosity about the length or absence of time since the last contact or interaction.