Nineteen-twelve in New York
Took a walk up to Park Avenue to sip some brew
With my good friend, Maggie the Bohemian
She was quite the woman of the world
I was the envy of all the men

Heaven help the child
Heaven help the child

Paris in the twenties, it can offer plenty
To a young man with a vision, so they say
With a friend named, Fitzgerald
I was headed for the old world
On a merchant steamer bound for Biscay Bay

Heaven help the child
Heaven help the child

Take him back to where he has never been
Nothing like a freight train, get you to a city
Pick another sad song for me, Jim
Hate to leave the ol' man all alone to work the cotton
But the country never seemed to bother him

Heaven help the child
Heaven help the child

Take us back to where we have never been
'War is hell to live with', I said to the General
As we made the battle plans out for the day
This will be the last one, only God be willin'
We will go back home this time to stay

So if old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Let's sip a cup of kindness
For my friends, today's gone by