See him wasted on the sidewalk in his jacket and his jeans
Wearing yesterdays misfortune like a smile
Once he had a future full of money, love and dreams
Which he'd spend like they were going out of style

And he keeps right on a changin' for the better or the worse
Searchin' for a shrine he has never found
Never known' if believin' is a blessin' or a curse
Or if the going 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 pligrim and a preacher and a problem when he's stoned
He's a walking contradiction, plartly truth and partly fiction
Taking every wrong direction on his lonley way back home

He has tasted good and evil, in your bedrooms and your bars
And he's traded-in tomorrow for today
Running from his devils Lord, reachin' for the stars
Loosin' all his love along the way

But if this world keeps right on turnin' for the better or the worst
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 a pilgrim and a preacher and a problem when he's stoned
He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction
Taking every wrong direction on his lonley way back home

There's been a lot of wrong directions on that lonley way back home.