Skid Row Joe

(album: Confessions Of A Broken Man - 1966)

Skid Row Joe

Last night that's who I found in the dirty part of town
Lost forgotten with no place to go
Tormented with a bitter taste outcast by the human race
A mask of torture was the face of Skid Row Joe

He walked up to where I stood on the street
Said, pardon me Mister, now don't get me wrong I don't want your money
Though heaven knows I could use it
But you see this is my home and you see the other bar down the street
Well, that's my home too
I noticed you staring at me a while ago you recognized me didn't you
I said, yeah Joe, I know who you are
You was one time a real famous singing star one of my favorites
He said, well, I guess you heard they took my babies away from me
I said, yeah Joe, I read about it in the papers
Then he turned his head away and I saw the tears fall in the place
And he turned to me and he said you know Mister
This is the only place in the world that I'm not ashamed to show my face
But I'm gonna quit yes sir I'm gonna quit
And I'm gonna cut my hair and shave and get me a clean white shirt
Then I'm gonna walk up to her door
When she answers I'm gonna stand up real proud and tall
Then I'm gonna get on my knees
Then I'll say sweetheart if you'll take me back
I'll spend the rest of my life making up to you for what I've done
I'm so ashamed of myself and this I want you to know
Then I'm gonna take my two little babies and I'm gonna hold 'em so close to me
I ain't gonna never let 'em go
I guess I should've told him then that she'd already remarried again
But after hearing what he'd said to me
Why there wasn't no way I could add to his misery
So I said, good luck, my best to you

Skid Row Joe