Lyrics to SAN FRANCISCO MABEL JOY have been posted in a thread called Songs about fallen women in the city.

You can hear it at YouTube.

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Thread #58798   Message #932923
Posted By: open mike
14-Apr-03 - 05:14 AM
Thread Name: songs about fallen women in the city
Subject: Lyr Add: SAN FRANCISCO MABEL JOY (Mickey Newbury)

SAN FRANCISCO MABEL JOY
(Mickey Newbury)

Oh his daddy was an honest man, red dirt Georgia farmer
His mama lived her short life havin' kids and bailin' hay
He had fifteen years and an ache inside to wander
Hopped a freight in Waycross wound up in LA

Oh 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

Growin' up came quietly in the arms of Mabel Joy
Laughter found their mornings, it brought a meaning to his life
On the 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 standing 'neath the red light at her door
When a right cross sent him reelin' put him face down on the floor
In place of Mabel Joy he found a merchant man marine
Who growled, 'Your Georgia neck is red, but sonny you're still green'

He turned twenty one in a grey rock federal prison
Old judge had no mercy on this Waycross Georgia boy
Starin' at those four grey walls in silence he would listen
To that midnight freight he knew would take him back to Mabel Joy

Sunday morning found him lyin' 'neath the red light at her door
With a bullet in his side, he cried 'Have you seen Mabel Joy?'
Stunned and shakin', someone said, 'Son, she don't live here no more
No, she left this house four years today - they say she's lookin' for
Some Georgia farm boy'.

Writer: Mickey Newbury Source: Insert to Mickey Newbury 'Nights when I am sane' Winter Harvest CD WH3301-2