(I started writin′ the song about Chris Gantry)

(Ended up writin' about Dennis Hopper)

(And Johnny Cash and Norman Norbert)(Funky Donny Fritts and Billy Swan Bobby Neuwirth)

(And Jerry Jeff Walker and Paul Siebel)

(And Ramblin′ Jack Elliot had a lot to do with it)

See him wasted on the sidewalk

In his jacket and his jeans

Wearin' yesterday's misfortunes like a smile

Once he had a future full of money love and dreams

Which he spent like they was goin′ out of style

And he keeps right on a changin′

For the better or the worse

Searchin' for a shrine he′s never found

Never knowin' if believin′ is a blessin' or a curse

Or if the goin′ up was worth the comin' down

He's a poet and he′s a picker

He′s a prophet and he's a pusher

He′s a pilgrim and a preacher

And a problem when he's stoned

He′s a walkin' contradiction

Partly truth and partly fiction

Takin′ every wrong direction

On his lonely way back home

He has tasted good and evil

In your bedrooms and your bars

And he's traded in tomorrow for today

Runnin' from his devils, Lord

And reachin′ for the stars

And losin′ all he loved along the way

But if this world keeps right on turnin'

For the better or the worse

And all he ever gets is older and around

From the rockin′ of the cradle

To the rollin' of the hearse

The goin′ up was worth the comin' down

He′s a poet and he's a picker

He's a prophet and he′s a pusher

He′s a pilgrim and a preacher

And a problem when he's stoned

He′s a walkin' contradiction

Partly truth and partly fiction

Takin′ every wrong direction

On his lonely way back home

There's lotta wrong directions

On that lonely way back home