Pearly Jim

Richard Thompson

My screenplay’s on the block 
My Tuscan villa’s in hock 
To Mister Pearly Jim 
My wife and kids have scrammed 
They say my phone is jammed 
By Mister Pearly Jim 

He dresses up in rags 
He’s mister money bags 
They call him Pearly Jim 
He’ll show you Paradise 
At least some place quite nice 
They call him Pearly Jim 

Why did you wait so long? 
Can you help him sing his song? 
‘Alms for the poor, 
Alms for the poor’ 
We need ketchup on our bangers and mash 
This self-denial brings us out in a rash 

I’m rolling dice for gin 
I’m getting sliced too thin 
By Mister Pearly Jim 
I mortgaged my des. res 
He needs a boost, he says 
Does Mister Pearly Jim 

He’s got a compound down 
The balmy side of town 
The guards’ll give you shits 
He’s got a pearly suit 
For every new recruit 
You’ll feel so thrilled to bits 

When he grits that pearly smile 
Will you go that extra mile? 
‘Alms for the poor 
Alms for the poor’ 
Chairman Mao’s got a whole lot of thoughts 
And R.D.Laing’s got me tied up in knots 

Does your conscience ever scream 
Between the chaos and the dream 
‘Alms for the poor 
Alms for the poor’ 
To save time just pay us here on the street 
The whole universe will be our receipt