Steely Dan - Charlie Freak lyrics

Charlie Freak had but one thing to call his own Three weight ounce pure golden ring no precious stone Five nights without a bite No place to lay his head And if nobody takes him in He'll soon be dead On the street he spied my face I heard him hail In our plot of frozen space he told his tale Poor man, he showed his hand So righteous was his need And me so wise I bought his prize For chicken feed Newfound cash soon begs to smash a state of mind Close inspection fast revealed his favorite kind Poor kid, he overdid Embraced the spreading haze And while he sighed his body died In fifteen ways When I heard I grabbed a cab to where he lay 'Round his arm the plastic tag read D.O.A. Yes Jack, I gave it back The ring I could not own Now come my friend I'll take your hand And lead you home