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