The Lesson

It was by the Broadway Local that my best friend and I
Were approached by some beggar with a scar above his eye
He said, "Mister I'm a'starvin, could you spare me any change?"
Well I did him what I could, my friend he laughed right in his face

My friend, you never have been hungry
Your luck it has been good
Don't sit back and judge no man
In whose shoes you've never stood

Well years later my friend married, ah that was his first mistake
He planned to be a rock star but he never got the break
Every now and then she'd leave him and one time it was for good
He lived in low rent districts, playing nightclub blues

My friend, you never have been hungry
Your luck it has been good
Don't sit back and judge no man
In whose shoes you've never stood

Well he was soon on 42nd Street with his guitar 'cross his back
Which he pawned for twenty dollar, which he blew in seconds flat
Then went huntin' for some cheap hotel to catch himself some sleep
But exhaustion overtook him, he collapsed upon the street
And no one stopped to help him, no he wasn't worth their time
So he lay there a'bleedin from a cut above his eye

My friend, you never have been hungry
Your luck it has been good
Don't sit back and judge no man
In whose shoes you've never stood

(repeat chorus:)

©1982 Phil Cohen