Maria Tecce  "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"

                  (hooker = prostitute, sex worker)

                  Originally by Tom Waits

         Lyrics (Tom Waits)

                  Hey Charlie, I'm pregnant and living on 9th Street

                  Right above a dirty bookstore off Euclid Avenue

                  And I stopped taking dope, and I quit drinking whiskey

                  And my old man plays the trombone and works out at the track

                  He says that he loves me even though it's not his baby

                  He says that he'll raise him up like he would his own son

                  And he gave me a ring that was worn by his mother

                  And he takes me out dancing every Saturday night

                  And hey Charlie, I think about you everytime I pass a fillin' station

                  On account of all the grease you used to wear in your hair

                  And I still have that record of Little Anthony and the Imperials

                  But someone stole my record player - now, how do you like that?

                  Hey Charlie, I almost went crazy after Mario got busted

                  I went back to Omaha to live with my folks

                  But everyone I used to know was either dead or in prison

                  So I came back to Minneapolis, this time I think I'm gonna stay

                  Hey Charlie, I think I'm happy for the first time since my accident

                  I wish I had all the money we used to spend on dope

                  I'd buy me a used car lot, and I wouldn't sell any of 'em

                  I'd just drive a different car every day, dependin' on how I feel 

                  Hey Charlie, for chrissakes, if you want to know the truth of it

                  I don't have a husband, he don't play the trombone

                  need to borrow money to pay this lawyer, and Charlie, hey

                  I'll be eligible for parole come Valentine's day