Memphis Pearl

(album: Sweet Old World - 1992)

Back in Memphis she was a pearl
She was everyone's favorite girl
Now her eyes have a vacant stare
What she wouldn't give to be living back there
She married a man when she left home
She wanted someone she could call her own
He was good to her when he wasn't drunk
He'd hold her and tell her how pretty she looked
Back in Memphis where she grew up
The life she knew was just not enough
Back in Memphis when she was a girl
She thought one day she'd own the world
She'd look at the TV and magazines
And she'd believe all the pictures she'd seen
She'd be wearing silk and perfume so sweet
But those things don't mean much out here on the street

[SOLO]

Back in Memphis she had fun
Going around, telling everyone
She was gonna buy dresses that zip up the side
And wear red lipstick, have a nice car to drive
She bounces her baby on her knee
Saying maybe today we'll get lucky, you'll see
I promise it won't always be like this
Come here, sugar, give Mamma a kiss
Back in Memphis another time
Didn't look like things would turn out fine
Back in Memphis when she was a girl
She thought one day she'd own the world
Back in Memphis she was a pearl