I was standin' at a big hotel
Wishin' everybody well
But if anybody paid me, any mind it was hard to tellA big policeman on his beat
Pulled his pistol and he pointed at me
Lookin' down the barrel I could see the gates of hell
Standin' at a big hotelSo I went walkin' down the avenue
Lookin' for someone who looked like you
But I never saw a face that seemed to ring a bellI stopped beside the five and dime
Just window shoppin' and wastin' time
When along came a gal who sold me all she had to sell
She left me standin' at a big hotelI lost my mind in the wilds of Hollywood
And I did some time in the shadows where I stood
I let the cards fall where they fell
And then I found myself standin' at a big hotelA blind lady with a old tin cup
Had her pencils all sharpened up
She was standin' in the door just to see what she could sellBut nobody bought a thing all night
They just thought she was a pitiful sight
Now the Lord helps the gal who helps herself
Standin' at a big hotelOh, but I know what you're thinkin' today
I can feel it though I'm miles away
Everybody knows I love my southern belleBut from the east to the wild, wild west
They say a bird in the hand is best
Here I am with a bird dog and a bottle of muscatel
Standin' at a big hotelI lost my mind in the wilds of Hollywood
And then I did some time in the shadows where I stood
I let the cards fall where they fell
And then I found myself standin' at a big hotel
Yeah, I found myself standin' at a big hotel