I ask my baby for a nickel
She gave me a twenty dollar bill
I ask her for a drink of whiskey
And she gave me a liquor still
Whoa, yeah yeah yeah
What can a poor boy do
Ain't it hard, ain't it hard
When you have to live the blues
I call my baby on the telephone
She said come on over Stevie I'm all alone
I said I can't get my car started mama
Whoa, yeah
What can a poor boy do
When he has to live the blues
And while my baby's makin' it with my best friend
I know I'm being used, yeah yeah yeah
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Lord have mercy