They'd say Pearl go get your boots on, we've got a field to plow
Girl put down that book you aint got no time to read right now
Mama she don't know the kind of visions that I see
But my ticket to the world is the soul inside of me

She'd go barefoot down to Beale street, she had no fancy shoes
She's tell them she was 21 and got paid to sing the blues
She'd crawl back into her window every night at 2:00 am
And pray her daddy didn't come to steal her innocence again
But finally she had her bus fare
They never found out where she'd gone
She left a note that said I'm goin' someplace
To make this life a better home

They'd say Pearl go get your boots on, we've got a field to plow
Girl put down that book you aint got no time to read right now
Mama she don't know the kind of visions that I see
But my ticket to the world is the soul inside of me

I met her in a lonely church one cloudy afternoon
She was singin' softly to the Lord and fillin' up the room
I said I've seen you on the big stage, lights and glory all around
Pearl what brings you to this place, she said it's my hometown
And I need just like the next one to remember who I was
So I've come back to find forgiveness
To see my past through eyes of love

They'd say Pearl go get your boots on, we've got a field to plow
Girl put down that book you aint got time to read right now
Mama she don't know the kind of visions that I see
But my ticket to the world is the soul inside of me
( Soul inside of me, Soul inside of me, Soul inside of me )
Pearl, Soul inside of me