Lyric Wharf Rat

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 he s no friend of mine.

Everyone said, I d come to no good, I knew I would Pearly, believe them.
Half of my life, I spent doin time for some other fucker s crime,
The other half found me stumbling round drunk on Burgundy wine.

But I ll get back on my feet again someday,
The good Lord willin , if He says I may.
I know that the life I m livin s no good,
I ll get a new start, live the life I should.
I ll get up and fly away, I ll get up and fly away, fly away.

Pearly s been true, true to me, true to my dyin day he said,
I said to him, I said to him, "I m sure she s been."
I said to him, "I m sure she s been true to you."

Got up and wandered, wandered downtown, nowhere to go but just hang around.
I ve got a girl, named Bonnie Lee, I know that girl s been true to me.
I know she s been, I m sure she s been true to me.