[Verse 1]
Born illegitimately to a whore, most likely
He became an orphan
Oh, what a lovely orphan
He was sent to the reformatory
Ten years old, it was his first glory
Got caught stealing from a nun
Now his love story had begun
It had begun

[Verse 2]
Oh, thirty years he spent wandering
A devil's child with doves’ wings
He went to prison
In every country he set foot in
Oh, how he loved, he loved prison
How awfully lovely was prison

[Chorus]
All those beautiful boys
Pimps and queens and criminal queers
All those beautiful boys
Tattoos of ships and tattoos of tears

[Verse 3]
His greatest lovе was executed
Thе pure romance was undisputed
Angelic hoodlums and holy ones
Angelic hoodlums and holy ones
[Chorus]
All those beautiful boys
Pimps and queens and criminal queers
All those beautiful boys
Tattoos of ships and tattoos of tears

[Chorus]
All those beautiful boys
Pimps and queens and criminal queers
All those beautiful boys
Tattoos of ships and tattoos of tears

[Outro]
All those beautiful boys
All, all, all those beautiful boys