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 ******'s crime
The other half found me stumblin' 'round
Drunk on Burgundy wine
But I'll get back on my feet someday
The good Lord, Lord willin', if He says, "I may"
I know that the life I'm living'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, true to me