I saw an old beggar dis mawnin', Lucindy,
De weathaw was col' an' bleak an' windy,
An' de fros' took hold
Ob de end ob his nose.
Whar wus he goin'?
Gord only knows, chile,
Gord only knows.
All he had on was an ole woolen jacket.
An' pants dat had done seed a mighty ha'd racket,
His shoes war all out,
Kase I saw his toes.
Whar wus he goin'?
Gord only knows, chile,
Gord only knows.
He said his gran'chillun had turned him away,
Wid nuffin' to eat on las' Thanksgibin' Day.
Wid no ovahcoat,
He looked about froze.
Whar was he goin'?
Gord only knows, chile,
Gord only knows.
He lifted his han's, day was bony an' blue,
An' axed me was dis hyar de main avenue,
Den walked ovah dar
To dose ten'ment rows.
Had he friends in dar?
Gord only knows, chile,
Gord only knows.
I doan bleb in treatin' a gran'fader so,
Kase some day it's comin' right squar back yer know.
An, when we grow ole
An' come to de snows,
Den who'll keer fo' us?
Gord only knows, chile,
Gord only knows.
Gord keeps account ob de sparrers dat fall,
We stan' a-waitin' we soon hyar him call.
Gord brings de wintah,
De rain an' de snows,
Gord makes de win' blow,
But jes' whar it goes,
Gord only knows, chile,
Gord only knows.