You took her perfume off the shelf
Sat in your little bed and sprayed yourself
Said "Mama, mama, I ain't no toy"
"But I'll be better, I'll be your Golden Boy"

He walked around the room and marked her vices with bows
He said "look what I can do for you"
And she got a phone call from the father of Sarah Rose
He had painted her body bright electric blue

So pound your chest, boy, run to the radio
I know you gotta make your way through a crumbling road
I'll keep my light on, sing for you today
Oh, I really hope you treat all your lovers that way
Golden Boy, Golden Boy, Golden Boy

I'll never forget the night of the 12th
The night you told me to go bruise myself
But I was a beggar unto a ploy
Said "I'll be better, just be my Golden Boy"

All I had was my songbook then and he said he would pay
Baby, look what I can do for you
Then he was a-howling at what the neighbors might say
They said "look what they made him do to you"

So pound your chest, boy, run to the radio
I know you gotta make your way through a crumbling road
I'll keep my light on, sing for you today
Oh, I really hope you treat all your lovers that way
Golden Boy
Golden Boy

Pound your chest, boy, run to the radio
I know you gotta make your way through a crumbling road
I'll keep my light on, sing for you today
Oh, I really hope you treat all your lovers that way
Golden Boy, Golden Boy, Golden Boy