Once I lived the life of a millionaire,
Spending all my money, I didn't care.
Taking my friends out for a mighty good time,
bootleg of whiskey, champagne and wine.
Then I began to fall so low,
Lost all my good friends and nowhere to go.
I get my hands on a dollar again,
I gonna hang on to it 'till that eagle grins.
'Cause nobody knows you
When you're down and out.
In my pocket, not one penny,
And my friends, I haven't any.
When you finally get myself back up on my feet again,
Everybody wanna be my long long-lost friends.
it's mighty strange, without a doubt,
Nobody knows you when you're down and out.