[cooldog]

  Aces and eights are the dead man's hand.
  Aces and eights are the hand of fate.
  He had he winnin' hand but it came too late ....
  He drew an ace and an eight!

From an old folk song about Wild Bill Hickok, who was shot in the back as he was playing poker.

Was this what you had in mind?

[FreePaul]

He drew an ace and an eight!

The aces and eights are correct. The words rhyme. What did hold that a draw like would give him the "Dead Man's Hand?" He was good with a gun but maybe not a good poker player.