I was standin' at a big hotel Wishin' everybody well But if anybody paid me any mind, it was hard to tell A 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 hotel So I went walkin' down the avenue Lookin' for someone who looked like you But I never saw a face that seemed to ring a bell I 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 hotel I 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 hotel A 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 sell But 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 hotel Oh, but I know what you're thinkin' today I can feel it though I'm miles away Everybody knows I love my southern belle But 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 hotel I 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