Well I'm sitting in church In an old wooden chair I knew nobody Would look for me there . . . Sorrow and pity . . . Rule the earth and the skies Looking for nothing Anyone's eyes Once I had pretty girls Did me wrong Now I'm marching to the city And the road ain't long Snowflakes are falling Around my head Lord have mercy It feel heavy like lead . . . I been hit too hard . . . Seen too much Nothing can heal me now But your touch Once I had a pretty girl She done me wrong Now I'm marching to the city And the road ain't long Loneliness Got a mind of its own The more people around The more you feel alone . . . I'm chained to the earth . . . Like a silent slave Trying to break free Out of death's dark cave Once I had a pretty girl Done me wrong Now I'm marching to the city And the road ain't long Boys in the street Beginning to play Girls like birds Flying away . . . I'm carrying the roses . . . That were given to me And I'm thinking about paradise Wondering what it might be Once I had a pretty girl She done me wrong Now I'm marching to the city And the road ain't long Go over to London Maybe gay Paree Follow the river You get to the sea . . . I was hoping we could drink from . . . Life's clear streams I was hoping we could dream Life's pleasant dreams Once I had a pretty girl But she done me wrong Now I'm marching to the city And the road ain't long Well the weak get weaker And the strong stay strong The train keeps rolling All night long . . . She looked at me . . . With an irresistible glance With a smile That could make all the planets dance Once I had a pretty girl She did me wrong Now I'm marching to the city And the road ain't long My house is on fire Burning to the skies I thought the rain clouds But the clouds passed by . . . When I'm gone . . . You'll remember my name I'm gonna win my way To wealth and fame Once I had a pretty girl But she did me wrong Now I'm marching to the city And the road ain't long I don't know