we were gathered round the garbage can passin' round the bottle
we were cold and burnin' anything that was dry enough to burn
a shivering man said he had left his family back in boston
and i knew i'd hear a whole lot more before it came my turn
a bearded man in an army coat said the answer boys is jesus
and one cold joe said all i know ain't january hell
one guy said let's have a drink to flagstaff arizona
i thought i'd nearly freeze to death before i'd get to tell
about mobile bay magnolia blossoms
cool summer nights warm rolling sea
and all the dreams somewhere i'd lost 'em
mobile bay magnolia leaves sweet rosalee
as daylight broke that morning on the wrong side of chicago
he was cold and hungry and all the wine was gone
people passed and pointed and said there's another wino
they didn't know that one last time his dreams would take him home
back to mobile bay magnolia blossoms
cool summer nights warm rolling sea
and all my dreams somewhere i lost them
mobile bay magnolia leaves sweet rosalee