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' outa 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, he's a picker-- He's a prophet, 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' ev'ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home. {modulate whole-step up:} VERSE 2: {add sus4 to 2nd half of A measures at will} 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's 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-- Chorus He's a poet, he's a picker-- He's a prophet, 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' ev'ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home. :coda riff} There's a lotta wrong directions on that lonely way back home