We were gathered round the garbage can

Passing around the bottle

We were cold and burning 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 boy 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 them

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