Wharf Rat (Live Fillmore East, New York, NY, April 26, 1971)

Old man down Way down, down, down by the docks of the city Blind and dirty Asked me for a dime, a dime for a cup of coffee I got no dime but I got some time to hear his story My name is August West And I love my Pearly Baker best more than my wine More than my wine More than my maker, though he's no friend of mine Everyone said I'd come to no good, I knew I would Pearly, believe them Half of my life I spent doin' time for some other fucker's crime The other half found me stumbling around drunk on Burgundy wine But I'll get back on my feet someday The good Lord willin', if He says I may I know that the life I'm livin'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, fly away Pearly's been true True to me, true to my dyin' day he said I said to him I said to him, "I'm sure she's been" I said to him, "I'm sure she's been true to you" I got up and wandered Wandered downtown, nowhere to go but to just hang around I've 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