I fully understood
That you'd leave when your ship come by
And l fully understood
You had a purpose more high
Then to give a little schoolboy
To give a little schoolboy his first love

But oh, did I cry and did I cry
For I thought that those days would just fade and die
But every cell in my body has it all writ down
Every smile and every frown

And oh those good-time girls, oh, those good-time girls
That book it sometimes makes me glad
That book it sometimes makes me sad
But oh, it don't read bad, oh, it don't read bad

I cursed you to your face
When you turned to go
But I see now that you did just right
And I bow to you low
For you gave a little schoolboy
You gave a little schoolboy his first love

But oh, did I cry and did I cry
For I thought that those days would just fade and die
But every cell in my body has it all writ down
Every smile and every frown

And oh those good-time girls, oh, those good-time girls
That book it sometimes makes me glad
That book it sometimes makes me sad
But oh, it don't read bad, oh, it don't read bad
And oh, it don't read bad