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
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 fucker’s crime
The other half found me stumbling round drunk on burgundy wine
But Ill get back on my feet someday
Good Lord willing, if he says I may
I know that the life I’m 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, Im sure shes been, I’m sure she’s been
I said to him, Im sure she’s 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, I’m sure shes been true to me