Now if I were a bricklayer, I wouldn't build just anything   And if I were a ballplayer, I wouldn't play no second string   And if I were some jewelry baby, Lord I'd have to be a diamond ring      Now if I were a secret, well Lord I never would be told   And if I were a jug of wine, Lord my flavor would be old   Well I could be 'most anything Lord, but it's got to be 24-karat solid gold      'Cause I'm a penthouse pauper, I ain't got nothing to my name   Lord I'm a penthouse pauper baby, I've got nothing to my name   Well I can be 'most anything darling when you got nothin' it's all the same      Now if I was a gambler, you know I'd never loose   And if I were a guitar player, Lord I'd have to play the blues   Now if I were a hatchet, my blade would be razor sharp   And if I were a politician, I could prove that money could talk, yeah      'Cause I'm a penthouse pauper, I ain't got nothing to my name   Lord I'm a penthouse pauper baby, I've got nothing to my name   Well I can be 'most anything darling when you got nothin' it's all the same