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 f**er'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.