You'll see pretty browns in beautiful gowns You'll see tailor-mades and hand-me-downs You'll meet honest men and pick-pockets skilled You'll find that business never closes Till somebody gets killed If Beale Street could talk, if Beale Street could talk Married men would have to take their beds and walk Except one or two, who never drink booze And the blind man on the corner Who sings the Beale Street Blues He said, "I'd rather be there than anyplace I know Yes, I'd rather be here, than anyplace I know It's gonna take the Sergeant, for to make me go" I'm goin' to the river, maybe by and by Yes, I'm goin' to the river and there's a reason why Because the river's wet and Beale Street's done gone dry