I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told I have squandered my resistance for a pocket full of mumbles Such are promises All eyes and chest till the man hears what he wants to hear And disregards the rest When I left my home and my family I was no more than a boy In the company of strangers In the quiet of the railway station running scared Laying low seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go Looking for the places only they will know La la lai Asking only workman's wages I come looking for a job but I get no offers Just a come on from the whores on 7th Avenue I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there La lai Now the years are all in by me they're rocking evenly And I am older than I once was younger than I'll be but that's not unusual No it isn't strange after changes upon changes we are more or less the same After changes we are more or less the same La lai Now I'm laying out my winter clothes wishing I was gone going home Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me Leading me to go home In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down And cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame I am leaving I am leaving but the fighter still remains as he still remained La lai La lai