Em Am Em Am
Em                     G                     Am        Em            
Charlie Freak had but one thing to call his own
Em                     G                     Am        Em   
Three weight ounce pure golden ring no precious stone
C               D      
Five nights without a bite
Em            Am      G     
No place to lay his head
Em        G      Am   
And if nobody takes him in
D                 Em
He'll soon be dead

Em                     G                     Am        Em   
On the street he spied my face I heard him hail
Em                     G                     Am        Em   
In our plot of frozen space he told his tale
C               D      
Poor man, he showed his hand
Em            Am      G    
So righteous was his need
Em        G      Am   
And me so wise I bought his prize
For chicken feed

Em                     G                     Am        Em   
Newfound cash soon begs to smash a state of mind
Em                     G                     Am        Em   
Close inspection fast revealed his favorite kind
C               D      
Poor kid, he overdid
Em            Am      G    
Embraced the spreading haze
And while he sighed his body died
In fifteen ways

Em                     G                     Am        Em   
When I heard I grabbed a cab to where he lay
Em                     G                     Am        Em   
'Round his arm the plastic tag read D.O.A.
C               D      
Yes Jack, I gave it back
Em            Am      G    
The ring I could not own
Em            G                   Am   
Now come my friend I'll take your hand
     D        Em
And lead you home