Fred Foster - The Pilgrim, Chapter 33 lyrics

{Intro - spoken} I started writing a song about Chris Gentry and ended up writing about Dennis Hopper, Johnny Cash... Norman, Norbert, Funky Donnie Fritts, Billy Swan, Bobby Neuwirth, Jerry Jeff Walker, Paul Siebel…and Ramblin' Jack Elliott had a lot to do with it {Intro - Musical} 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' outta 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 and he's a picker, he's a prophet and 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' every 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 and 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' every wrong direction on his lonely way back home There's a lotta wrong directions on that lonely way back home