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
   Lord have mercy on me, yeah
  
   I'm tryin' to find my babe
   Won't somebody please, yeah yeah
   Won't somebody please bring her home to me