We were born one day in the same grey room
And all the nurses gathered just to look at you
Though my mother says that I never cried at all
Then you grew up fast and you grew up bright
Pretty in a population starved of light
If you knew my name, well you never did let on
Ava, Ava
I'm not a pretty boy
But I'm loyal and life's long
You need folks to depend on
Maybe I'm built all wrong
But my love is true
In the battle years you were free of mind
Took to peeling tangerines to pass the time
And you knew me then
Yes you did, 'cause you showed me so
But the ships came home and the men poured in
The city was a Babylon of wine and sin
And you filled your skin with the richest, strongest ones
Ava, Ava
I'm not a pretty boy
But I'm loyal and life's long
You need folks to depend on
Maybe I'm built all wrong
But my love is true
Now I watch you drift like a tired balloon
Slowly bleeding life and losing altitude
But I like your face
There's a grace to the wrinkles there
Should we meet some day in an old folks' home
And you need someone to wheel you to the telephone
To call your friends, I won't mind
Honey, I'm your gal
Ava, Ava
I'm not a pretty boy
But I'm loyal and life's long
You need folks to depend on
Maybe I'm built all wrong
But my love is true
Maybe I'm built all wrong
But my love is true