CHARLIE FREAK
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)

Recorded by : Walter Becker; Steely Dan.


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