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Grateful Dead - Wharf Rat Lyrics

Artist: Grateful Dead

Album: Grateful Dead (Skulls And Roses)

Genre: Rock

  • Songwriters: Jerome J Garcia, Robert C Hunter

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 stumblin' 'round
Drunk on Burgundy wine

But I'll get back on my feet someday
The good Lord, Lord willin', 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, 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"

Got up and wandered, wandered downtown
Nowhere to go but 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, true to me


Add Song Meaning

  • Anonymous

    I believe the term "Wharf Rat" from the Grateful
    Dead song of the same name is about a homeless man, and homeless people. But, knowing The Dead, like I do, it may have a metaphorical meaning; not an obvious meaning.

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