He embraced it on the sidewalk,
in his jacket and his jeans,
wearing yesterday's misfortunes
Once he had a future full of money,
which he spent like he was
He keeps right on changing
for the better or the worse
Never knowing if believing
Or if the going up was good,
He's a po et, he's a picker,
he's a prophet, he's a pusher
He's a pilgrim and a preacher
and a problem and a stone
He's a walking contradiction
by the truth, not the fiction
Taking every wrong direction
on that lonely 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 devil's lord
and reaching for the stars
Losing all his love along the way
But if this world keeps right on turning
For the better or the worse
All he gets is older and around
From the rockin' of the cradle
to the rollin' of the verse
He's a po et, he's a picker,
he's a prophet, he's a pusher
He's a pilgrim and a preacher
and a problem and a stone
He's a walkin' contradiction
by the truth, by the fiction
Taking every wrong direction
on that lonely way back home
