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.

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

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.
There's a lotta wrong directions
on that lonely way back home.

See also:
JustSomeLyrics
66
66.20
John Hiatt And The Goners My Baby Blue Lyrics
Brenda Lee Papa Noel [Single Version]/Single Version Lyrics