Wharf Rat

Old man down, way down, down by the docks of the city
Blind and dirty, he asked me for a dime, a dime for a cup of coffee
I got no dime, I got some time to hear his story
My name is August West, and I love my Pearly Baker better than all my wine
More than my wine, more than my maker, though he's no friend of mine

Half of my life, I spent doing time for some other fucker's crime
The other half I've spent stumbling 'round, drunk off of Burgundy wine

Gotta get back on my feet someday
The good Lord willing, if He says I may
I know that the life I'm living's no good
I'll get a new start, live the life I should
I'll get up and fly away
I'll get up and fly away
I'll get up and fly away, fly away

I got up and wandered, I wandered downtown
Nowhere to go, just to hang around
I got a girl named Bonnie Lee
I know that girl's been true to me
I know she's been, I'm sure she's been true to me
I know she's been, I'm sure she's been true to me

Girlfriend has been true
She's been true to me, true to my dying day
I said, sure she's been true