I know I'm young, but its the oldest I've ever been
  I'm 23 now, halfway to 24
  I'll never see these years again
  so don't make me ask again, and hold out this old tin cup
  just reach out for my reaching hands
  and pull me up...
  
  got no trouble staying thin
  and might think that I've been blessed
  lord you know that I'd say yes
  god smiles upon the hungry, while you laugh...
  
  in this second story novel, that I call home
  up the stairs and down the hall
  its just like turning the page
  got no rugs upon my floors, but it'll have to do for now
  but I'm only getting older...
  
  and I worry about MISS ALVA MARIA
  though she'll never even know that I exist
  well we lost her 15 years ago, but I've been finding her all my life
  there's something about the way she looks that moves me
  there's something about the way she loves that moves me...
  
  this stale cigarette smoke, still clings
  to my shirt, my hair and my hands
  well you know I ain't making jack, but you know that I'll be back
  I've got nothing else to offer
  I've got nothing else to offer
  this is all I've got to offer...
  
  and I worry about MISS ALVA MARIA
  though she'll never even know that I exist
  well we lost her 15 years ago but I've been finding her all my life
  there's something about the way she looks that moves me
  there's something about the way she loves that moves me
  there's something about how she loses it all that moves me
  wont you tell me what its like to be remembered?
  
  I know I'm young, but this is the oldest I've ever been
  I'm 23 now, halfway to 24
  I'll never see these years again...