San Francisco Mabel Joy

His daddy was an honest man a red dirt Georgia farmer

His mama lived her young life having kids and bailing hay

He had fifteen years and an ache inside to wander

Jumped a freight in Waycross and wound up in LA.

The cold nights had no pity on that Waycross Georgia farm boy

Most days he went hungry then the summer came

He met a girl known on the Strip as San Francisco's Mabel Joy

Destitution's child born on an LA street called Shame.

Growing up came quietly in the arms of Mabel Joy

Laughter found the mornings that brought the meaning to his life

Night before she left sleep came and found that Waycross country boy

With dreams of Georgia cotton and a California wife.

Sunday morning found him neath the red light at her door

A right cross sent him reelin' and put him face down on the floor

In place of Mabel Joy he found a merchant mad marine

He said your Georgia neck is red but Sonny you're still green.

He turned twenty one in a grey rock Federal prison

The judge had no mercy on this Waycross Georgia boy

Starin' at those four grey walls in silnce Lord he'd listen

To the midnight freight he knew could take him back to Mabel Joy.

Sunday morning found him neath the red light at her door

With a bullet in his side he cried have you seen Mabel Joy

Stunned and shaken someone said she don't live here no more

She left this house four years ago she was lookin' for some Georgia farm boy...