Jason Collett Follow

Vanderpool, Vanderpool
Professor of the piano
Got himself a wavy 'do
Vanderpool, Vanderpool

From the ugly Madam's gilded room
The ivories tinkle out a merry tune
While out in the street the Reverend's gloom
Ain't saving nobody

Big Jim, Colossimo
Kissing his fist before rolling the bones
Crying, Come on, seven, don't you know
Baby needs a new pair of shoes

Vanderpool, Vanderpool,
A diamond ring on every finger
Well the papers assumed he never stepped into the room
Without his velvet slippers

One-legged pimps along the avenue
All the preening dandies
Hinky-Dink, Cannon Bathhouse, John Caldwin and Crane Dollar
Hold houses on the levy

Taking a cut, eight cents of every dollar
With a kickback to the Mayor
And the derelict lords and the first world ivorymen

Faces livelier than a bird in a cage
Last night I deigned from Monkey-Face Charlie Gankle's place
You know that Morgan Street Joan?
Well, she stuck a hairpin into a gentleman's stomach

Vanderpool, Vanderpool
Bouncing on his piano stool
Vanderpool, Vanderpool
You're lawless for legionnaires' peccadilloes

Kitty Adams on Satan's mind
State Street, 1896
Claimed to be related to the Raven Poet
Well, at least that's what the Madam says

High jinks on election day
All the slap-shoulder bonhomie
Jerusalem Slim took the very last train
And left all the hustlers and the hoodlums fast asleep

Vanderpool, Vanderpool
Tossing back his wavy 'do
Kicking over his piano stool
Screaming, Jesus has left Chicago

Vanderpool, Vanderpool
Vanderpool, Vanderpool
Vanderpool, Vanderpool

Vanderpool, Vanderpool
Vanderpool, Vanderpool
Vanderpool, Vanderpool