I got a pocketful of pearls, they're mine all mine 
I take 'em round the world, feed 'em to the swine 
Some don't like, they say it's a waste 
Some don't like it 'cause they got no taste 
Sometimes I get to wonder, where the hell I am 
When a pocketful of pearls ain't worth a damn 

I got a pocketful of pearls, I feel like a king 
Outside the palace, it don't mean a thing 
I guess it all depends on wherever you are 
In the middle of a desert, they won't get you to far 
They only want your water, they don't want your wine 
Pocketful of pearls, feed 'em to the swine 

Instr. break 

There's got to be a million treasures 
On the bottom of the sea 
But you gotta go down there, you won't get 'em for free 
Sometimes you wonder what to do it all for 
When draggin' them around, must be it's own reward 

I had a pocketful of pearls, I was mighty proud 
I went out spillin' them all over the crowd 
I learned a thing or two about the world ain't fair 
The more you try to please 'em, the less they're gonna care 
If you got smething precious, leave it on the shelf 
Pocketful of pearls, keep it to yourself