Spent time feelin' inferior standing' in front of my mirror;
Combed my hair in a thousand ways, but I came out lookin' just the same.
Daddy said, "Son, you better see the world,
I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to leave.
But remember one thing, don't lose your head to a woman that'll spend your
bread".
So I got out!

Paris was a place you could hide away, if you felt you didn't fit in.
French police wouldn't give me no peace, they claimed I was a nasty person.
Down along the Left Bank, minding my own,
Was knocked down by a human stampede;
Got arrested for inciting a peaceful riot, when all I wanted was a cup of tea.
I was accused.

I moved on.
Down in Rome I wasn't getting enough
Of the things that keep a young man alive.
My body stunk, but I kept my funk at a time when I was right out of luck.
Getting desperate, indeed I was looking like a tourist attraction.
Oh, my dear, I better get out of here for the Vatican don't give no sanction.
I wasn't ready for that, no, no.

I moved right out East, yeah!
On the Peking ferry I was feeling merry, sailing on my way back here.
I fell in love with a slant-eyed lady by the light of an eastern moon.
Shanghai Lil never used the pill, she claimed that it just ain't natural.
She took me up on deck and bit my neck. Oh, people, I was glad I found her,
Oh, yeah, I was glad I found her.

I firmly believed that I didn't need anyone but me.
I sincerely thought I was so complete. Look how wrong you can be.
The women I've known I wouldn't let tie my shoe.
They wouldn't give you the time of day,
But the slant-eyed lady knocked me off my feet. God, I was glad I found her.

And if they had the words I could tell to you
To help you on your way down the road,
I couldn't quote you no Dickens, Shelley or Keats,
'Cause it's all been said before.
Make the best out of the bad, just laugh it off.
You didn't have to come here anyway. So remember:

Ev'ry picture tells a story don't it?
Ev'ry picture tells a story don't it?

Writer : STEWART, ROD/WOOD, RON
Copyright : Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.