Walter Becker - Charlie Freak lyrics

[Verse 1] Charlie Freak had but one thing to call his own Three weighed 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 [Verse 2] 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 [Verse 3] 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 [Verse 4] 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