Wharf Rat Lyrics - Grateful Dead (live) - Grateful Dead

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 'round drunk on Burgundy wine 

But I'll get back on my feet again 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"