Dĺžka piesne: 08:30
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 tru to you."
Got up and wandered, wandered downtown, nowhere to go but just hang around.
I've got a girl, named Bonnie Lee, I know that girl's been true to me.
I know she's been, I'm sure she's been true to me.
Please Click here to submit the Corrections of Wharf Rat Lyrics
Please Click Here to Print Wharf Rat Lyrics
Thanks to Jason Seifer for submitting Wharf Rat Lyrics.
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Eureka! Too many coincidences! I believe I have unlocked the Song! | Reviewer: Timbuck | 7/28/12
I just read the book: Saint Augustine's Confessions and this is the obvious source for this song. August West (Augustine of the western world?) Saint Augustine describes in his book bitterness over many failed love relationships and his own lusty behavior. He samples many religions and philosophies and throughout has contempt with God for his frustrated fate but like August West, ultimately reaches out to God for salvation from his fate. Oh, and the clincher, Saint Augustine's book has a section called "The Merry Drunk" - a drunken beggar who Saint Augustine first dismisses, but when he measures up his own life values and circumstances reflects that he is no better and in many times just as worse and is filled with has to reassure and reassess his life and "wanders" seeking life's truths.
Addiction | Reviewer: Scottyg354 | 7/2/12
Wharf Rat, is about tackling addiction. There are groups of people that used to attend Grateful Dead show's who called themselves Wharf Rat's due to their recovery and sobriety.
I think it is a conversation between two men, one of which is an alcoholic and another who is possibly on the verge of addiction? After talking to August West, the latter questions exactly which direction his life is going, as his story sounds very similar to August West's at the end.
This is truly a fantastic song. Probably one of my top 5 GD songs.
addicts/alcoholics are eternal optomists | Reviewer: heavyd | 4/7/12
I think this song is about a man who meets a drunk and then it goes back and forth from the drunk (Wharf Rat) to the man.
The man at the end questions his own life while for the drunk hope always springs eternal. " I'll get up and fly away " is his way of saying I will get out of this someday. It is all an addict/alcoholic can hang on to.
Take it from me , I have lived it - both sides actually...
deadphan | Reviewer: Anonymous | 10/14/11
"I also don't like taking it at face value, even though that's how Hunter probably wrote it. A guy who is locked away half his life for another man's crime, gets out and finds a way to spend his days drinking wine on the docks of a city and drinks burgundy exclusively but has a clear memory and a hopeful spirit is a pretty romantic characte"
maybe the line spent doing time for some other fuckers crime isnt literal, but the other fucker is august west when hes on the bottle or blacked out, i have friends who have "spent time for some other fuckers crime" because they had no idea what they were doing and no memory. i think the some other fucker is the person who comes out in us when were black out on burgundy
mental illness | Reviewer: jpmorgan | 9/3/11
I don't think this songs lyrics are analogous to Garcia's struggles with addictions, Robert Hunter wrote it.
I also don't like taking it at face value, even though that's how Hunter probably wrote it. A guy who is locked away half his life for another man's crime, gets out and finds a way to spend his days drinking wine on the docks of a city and drinks burgundy exclusively but has a clear memory and a hopeful spirit is a pretty romantic character.
I choose to take it as August is actually a delusional, unstable killer, with his story being mostly made up and he is out of his mind.
The guy who listens to him walks away scared shitless that he could ever drop that far and knee jerkedly conjures up a dead relationship with an old fling, Bonnie Lee that he certainly knows is dead, as he's walking away.
It's sort of an unwitting slip into the same craziness that he just encountered. It shows that as Nietzsche said (something like) when one looks into the abyss too long-the abyss looks back.
Some Wisdom Here | Reviewer: Holly | 3/29/11
Warf Rat is my favorite GD song. It demonstrates some unexpected wisdom coming from someone so young during the 1970s. The self deceit of someone who is a drunk, "Pearly's been true, true to me, true to my dyin' day he said," And the expectations of others, " Everyone said, I'd come to no good, I knew I would Pearly, believe them." It ends with drunks reassuring each other by exchanging lies to each other and to themselves. We have all seen it, or experienced, but it takes time to appreciate it. Jerry Garcia appreciated it while quite young.
Jerry's Autobiography | Reviewer: xango | 9/22/10
Jerry's drug of choice was heroin. But, this song is an autobiography of his in a sense. He grew up in a bar in San Francisco and he ended up getting addicted himself, becoming a sort of "Wharf Rat" himself searching for redemption until his last days. Absolutely love the song and was deeply moved every time I heard Jerry sing it.
furthur at GOTV | Reviewer: Anonymous | 8/19/10
i saw furthur play this song at gathering of the vibes. ever since then i have been obsessed with it. the lyrics are amazing the story is amazing, the chord changes are amazing. If your at a low point in your life, this song will sooth your soul.
One rat to another | Reviewer: JoGusto | 8/13/10
"I got up and wandered, nowhere to go but just to hang around."
"I got no dime but I got some time to hear his story..."
One wharf rat sits down next to another, listens to his story, and then wanders off, wondering about his own girl, whom he obviously hasn't seen for a while. I wonder if he'll ever get up and fly away? or if Bonnie Lee has flown the coop long ago and has given up on the teller of the story, obviously another down-on-his-luck impoverished soul, stuck in an urban subsistence lifestyle.
the Great Warf Rat | Reviewer: Irishpalms | 6/24/10
The Dead came out at Watkins Glen On Friday night in a 'tune up' deal and did Warf Rat. I hadn't heard it live for 2 years and it brought tears my eyes. If you are a warf Rat fan listen to 'Attics Of My Life' for, you, my friend love poetry put to music.
Layers of the song | Reviewer: Anonymous | 6/27/10
The song takes one on a journey..... it's your life; struggles, regrets, the future. Always be true to yourself is the message in the lyrics. Just close your eyes and take in the colors and layers of the song.
'Everyman' song | Reviewer: Karl | 6/13/10
Wharf Rat has recently become the favorite song of this 24-year-old. It gets my emotions every time I hear it. Every one who has been in a relationship and/or made a mistake in their life should be able to identify with this one.
Slip off to sleep my son | Reviewer: Gomer | 11/19/09
I Love this song...probably my favorite GD song!
I play it for my son at bedtime in our big rockin' chair along with some other easy jams. It always works!
He turned 4 today, and he was so excited that I let him stay up to listen to music before bed tonight. Once again...sweet dreams my son.
Wharf Rat, another interpretation | Reviewer: Farrell Timlake | 8/4/09
I read this as a guy who confronts a drunk and listens to his tale and by the end of it begins having his own doubts about his life and his own girl. That last line of the song - the repetition suggests doubt, "I know she's been... I'm sure she's been true to me"
The Dead have plenty of songs that are light and cheerful but this is one of their best dark, moody efforts.
Redemption and renewal | Reviewer: Jeff Curry | 7/15/09
This song is a favorite of one of my best friends. Each of us has a different song that really pulls on us. Mine is Playiing in the Band. I think the appeal to my friend is that, no matter what kind of life someone has led, there is still room for optimism and redemption. "I'm sure she's been true to me" and "I'll get up and fly away" are very optimistic statements about better things to come.
Reviews By Pages: 1 2
The following area is only for review, if you want to submit the lyrics or the corrections of the lyrics, please click the link at the end of Wharf Rat Lyrics.
Your Name: (Important: Your name will be published if you input it) Review for Wharf Rat Lyrics ------ Performed by Grateful Dead Please enter a title for your review: ------ 09/14/2012 Type your review in the space below:
Grateful Dead BiographyGrateful Dead AlbumsGrateful Dead Lyrics
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 tru to you."
Got up and wandered, wandered downtown, nowhere to go but just hang around.
I've got a girl, named Bonnie Lee, I know that girl's been true to me.
I know she's been, I'm sure she's been true to me.
Please Click here to submit the Corrections of Wharf Rat Lyrics
Please Click Here to Print Wharf Rat Lyrics
Thanks to Jason Seifer for submitting Wharf Rat Lyrics.
rm_sid = "SNGYros";
rm_artist = "Grateful Dead";
rm_song = "Wharf Rat";
rm_icon_left = "http://www.sing365.com/images/phone.gif";
rm_icon_right = "http://www.sing365.com/images/phone2.gif";
document.write(' Send ' + (rm_song != '' && rm_artist != '' ? '"' + rm_song + '" Ringtone' : (rm_artist != '' ? rm_artist + ' Ringtones' : 'Ringtones')) + ' to your Cell ');
Eureka! Too many coincidences! I believe I have unlocked the Song! | Reviewer: Timbuck | 7/28/12
I just read the book: Saint Augustine's Confessions and this is the obvious source for this song. August West (Augustine of the western world?) Saint Augustine describes in his book bitterness over many failed love relationships and his own lusty behavior. He samples many religions and philosophies and throughout has contempt with God for his frustrated fate but like August West, ultimately reaches out to God for salvation from his fate. Oh, and the clincher, Saint Augustine's book has a section called "The Merry Drunk" - a drunken beggar who Saint Augustine first dismisses, but when he measures up his own life values and circumstances reflects that he is no better and in many times just as worse and is filled with has to reassure and reassess his life and "wanders" seeking life's truths.
Addiction | Reviewer: Scottyg354 | 7/2/12
Wharf Rat, is about tackling addiction. There are groups of people that used to attend Grateful Dead show's who called themselves Wharf Rat's due to their recovery and sobriety.
I think it is a conversation between two men, one of which is an alcoholic and another who is possibly on the verge of addiction? After talking to August West, the latter questions exactly which direction his life is going, as his story sounds very similar to August West's at the end.
This is truly a fantastic song. Probably one of my top 5 GD songs.
addicts/alcoholics are eternal optomists | Reviewer: heavyd | 4/7/12
I think this song is about a man who meets a drunk and then it goes back and forth from the drunk (Wharf Rat) to the man.
The man at the end questions his own life while for the drunk hope always springs eternal. " I'll get up and fly away " is his way of saying I will get out of this someday. It is all an addict/alcoholic can hang on to.
Take it from me , I have lived it - both sides actually...
deadphan | Reviewer: Anonymous | 10/14/11
"I also don't like taking it at face value, even though that's how Hunter probably wrote it. A guy who is locked away half his life for another man's crime, gets out and finds a way to spend his days drinking wine on the docks of a city and drinks burgundy exclusively but has a clear memory and a hopeful spirit is a pretty romantic characte"
maybe the line spent doing time for some other fuckers crime isnt literal, but the other fucker is august west when hes on the bottle or blacked out, i have friends who have "spent time for some other fuckers crime" because they had no idea what they were doing and no memory. i think the some other fucker is the person who comes out in us when were black out on burgundy
mental illness | Reviewer: jpmorgan | 9/3/11
I don't think this songs lyrics are analogous to Garcia's struggles with addictions, Robert Hunter wrote it.
I also don't like taking it at face value, even though that's how Hunter probably wrote it. A guy who is locked away half his life for another man's crime, gets out and finds a way to spend his days drinking wine on the docks of a city and drinks burgundy exclusively but has a clear memory and a hopeful spirit is a pretty romantic character.
I choose to take it as August is actually a delusional, unstable killer, with his story being mostly made up and he is out of his mind.
The guy who listens to him walks away scared shitless that he could ever drop that far and knee jerkedly conjures up a dead relationship with an old fling, Bonnie Lee that he certainly knows is dead, as he's walking away.
It's sort of an unwitting slip into the same craziness that he just encountered. It shows that as Nietzsche said (something like) when one looks into the abyss too long-the abyss looks back.
Some Wisdom Here | Reviewer: Holly | 3/29/11
Warf Rat is my favorite GD song. It demonstrates some unexpected wisdom coming from someone so young during the 1970s. The self deceit of someone who is a drunk, "Pearly's been true, true to me, true to my dyin' day he said," And the expectations of others, " Everyone said, I'd come to no good, I knew I would Pearly, believe them." It ends with drunks reassuring each other by exchanging lies to each other and to themselves. We have all seen it, or experienced, but it takes time to appreciate it. Jerry Garcia appreciated it while quite young.
Jerry's Autobiography | Reviewer: xango | 9/22/10
Jerry's drug of choice was heroin. But, this song is an autobiography of his in a sense. He grew up in a bar in San Francisco and he ended up getting addicted himself, becoming a sort of "Wharf Rat" himself searching for redemption until his last days. Absolutely love the song and was deeply moved every time I heard Jerry sing it.
furthur at GOTV | Reviewer: Anonymous | 8/19/10
i saw furthur play this song at gathering of the vibes. ever since then i have been obsessed with it. the lyrics are amazing the story is amazing, the chord changes are amazing. If your at a low point in your life, this song will sooth your soul.
One rat to another | Reviewer: JoGusto | 8/13/10
"I got up and wandered, nowhere to go but just to hang around."
"I got no dime but I got some time to hear his story..."
One wharf rat sits down next to another, listens to his story, and then wanders off, wondering about his own girl, whom he obviously hasn't seen for a while. I wonder if he'll ever get up and fly away? or if Bonnie Lee has flown the coop long ago and has given up on the teller of the story, obviously another down-on-his-luck impoverished soul, stuck in an urban subsistence lifestyle.
the Great Warf Rat | Reviewer: Irishpalms | 6/24/10
The Dead came out at Watkins Glen On Friday night in a 'tune up' deal and did Warf Rat. I hadn't heard it live for 2 years and it brought tears my eyes. If you are a warf Rat fan listen to 'Attics Of My Life' for, you, my friend love poetry put to music.
Layers of the song | Reviewer: Anonymous | 6/27/10
The song takes one on a journey..... it's your life; struggles, regrets, the future. Always be true to yourself is the message in the lyrics. Just close your eyes and take in the colors and layers of the song.
'Everyman' song | Reviewer: Karl | 6/13/10
Wharf Rat has recently become the favorite song of this 24-year-old. It gets my emotions every time I hear it. Every one who has been in a relationship and/or made a mistake in their life should be able to identify with this one.
Slip off to sleep my son | Reviewer: Gomer | 11/19/09
I Love this song...probably my favorite GD song!
I play it for my son at bedtime in our big rockin' chair along with some other easy jams. It always works!
He turned 4 today, and he was so excited that I let him stay up to listen to music before bed tonight. Once again...sweet dreams my son.
Wharf Rat, another interpretation | Reviewer: Farrell Timlake | 8/4/09
I read this as a guy who confronts a drunk and listens to his tale and by the end of it begins having his own doubts about his life and his own girl. That last line of the song - the repetition suggests doubt, "I know she's been... I'm sure she's been true to me"
The Dead have plenty of songs that are light and cheerful but this is one of their best dark, moody efforts.
Redemption and renewal | Reviewer: Jeff Curry | 7/15/09
This song is a favorite of one of my best friends. Each of us has a different song that really pulls on us. Mine is Playiing in the Band. I think the appeal to my friend is that, no matter what kind of life someone has led, there is still room for optimism and redemption. "I'm sure she's been true to me" and "I'll get up and fly away" are very optimistic statements about better things to come.
Reviews By Pages: 1 2
The following area is only for review, if you want to submit the lyrics or the corrections of the lyrics, please click the link at the end of Wharf Rat Lyrics.
Your Name: (Important: Your name will be published if you input it) Review for Wharf Rat Lyrics ------ Performed by Grateful Dead Please enter a title for your review: ------ 09/14/2012 Type your review in the space below:
Grateful Dead BiographyGrateful Dead AlbumsGrateful Dead Lyrics