a história é a do lamento de um ex-milionário, durante a época da lei seca, em relação à futilidade efémera do dinheiro e à falsidade de muitas amizades perante a riqueza alheia, num azul escrito por jimmy cox em 1923 e popularizado pela grande bessie smith seis anos depois. a sua abordagem é diferente da versão original, introduzindo uma atmosfera de vaudeville e até algum jazz. e assim nasceu um standard.



Once I lived the life of a millionaire,

Spent all my money, didn’t have any cares.

Took all my friends out for a mighty good time,

Bought bootleg liquor, champagne and wine.

Then I began to fall so low,

Lost all my good friends, had no nowhere to go.

I get my hands on a dollar again,

I’ll hang on to it till that eagle grins.

Because, nobody knows you

When you're down and out.

In your pocket, not one penny,

And as for friends, you don't have any.

When you get back up on your feet again,

Everybody wants to be your long-lost friend.

I said it's strange, without any doubt,

Nobody knows you when you're down and out.

Ooooh, nobody knows you

When you're down and out.

In your pocket, not one penny,

And as for friends, you don't have any.

When you get back on your feet again,

Everybody wants to be your long-lost friend.

I said it's strange, without any doubt

Nobody knows you, nobody knows you,

Nobody knows you when you're down and out