Old man down, way down down, down by the docks of the city
Blind and dirty, asked me for a dime, a dime for a cup of coffee
I got no dime but I got some time to hear his story
My name is August West, and I love my Pearly Baker best, more than my wine
More than my wine, more than my maker, though hes no friend of mine
Everyone said, Id come to no good, I knew I would pearly, believe them
Half of my life, I spent doing time for some other fuckers crime
The other half found me stumbling round drunk on burgundy wine
But Ill get back on my feet again someday
The good lord willing, if he says I may
I know that the life Im livings no good
Ill get a new start, live the life I should
Ill get up and fly away, Ill get up and fly away, fly away
Pearlys been true, true to me, true to my dying day he said
I said to him, I said to him, Im sure shes been.
I said to him, Im sure shes been true to you.
Got up and wandered, wandered downtown, nowhere to go but just hang around
Ive got a girl, named Bonnie Lee, I know that girls been true to me
I know shes been, Im sure shes been true to me