Number runner Come to my door. I had swore I wouldn't play no more He said, Madam, 6-0-2 Looks like a likely hit for you. I said, Last night I dreamed 7-0-3. He said, That might Be a hit for me. He played a dime, I played, too, Then we boxed 'em. Wouldn't you? But the number that day was 3-2-6 And we both was in The same old fix. I said, I swear I Ain't gonna play no more Till I get over To the other shore -- Then I can play On them golden streets Where the number not only Comes out - but repeats! The runner said, Madam, That's all very well -- But suppose You goes to hell?
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Authorship
- by (James Mercer) Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Madam and the Number Writer", appears in One-Way Ticket, first published 1949 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Elie Siegmeister (1909 - 1991), "Madam and the Number Runner", 1964, published 1975 [ high voice and piano ], from Madam to You, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-09-07
Line count: 32
Word count: 120