Charlie Freak - Steely Dan

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

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