I've seen the lights of gay broadway
Old market street down by the frisco bay
I've strolled the prado, I've gambled on the bourse
The seven wonders of the world I've seen
And many are the places I have been
Take my advice folks and see beale street first

You'll see tailor mades and hand me downs
You'll meet honest men and pickpockets skilled
You'll find that bus'ness never closes till somebody gets killed
You'll see jugs that tell of bygone days
And places, once places, now just a shame
You'll see golden balls enough to pave the new jerusalem

Who come to beale for inspiration
Politicians call you a dub
Unless you've been initiated in the rickriters club
Married men would have to take their beds and walk
Except one or two, who never drank booze
And the blind man on the corner who sings the beale street blues

The blues: I'd rather be here, than any place I know
I'd rather be here, than any place I know
It's goin' to take the seargent for to make me go
Goin' to the river, maybe, bye and bye
Goin' to the river, maybe, bye and bye
Because the rivers wet and beale street's done gone dry