All the champs and the heroes. They got a price to pay. They go from sixty to zero. In the split of a hair. They see the face in the window. They feel a shadow out there. They've got the places they can go. They've got the people who stare. They've got to walk in their shoes. They've got to see what they see. They've got the people around them. Getting too much for free. All the pimps and the dealers. All the food they can eat. All the screamers and squealers. When they walk down the street. Yeah.. He's just a rich old man. He never cared for anyone. He likes to count his possessions. He's been a miser from penny one. He never cared for his children. Never cared for his wife. Never made anyone happy. That's the way he lived his life. And one day in the sunshine. He got a bolt from the blue. Unloaded all of his possessions. Sold his investments too. And now he lives with the homeless. Owns 900 hospital beds. He prefers to remain nameless. It's publicity he dreads. Yeah.. There's a judge in the city. He goes to work every day. Spends his life in the courthouse. Keeps his perspective that way. But I respect his decision. He's got a lot on his mind. He's pretty good with the gavel. A little heavy on the fines. One day there was this minstrel. Who came to court on a charge. That he blew someone's head off. Because his amp was too large. And the song he was singin'. Was not for love but for cash. Well the judge waived the charges. He fingered his mustache. Yeah.. Well there's a clown in a carnival. He rode a painted horse. He came from somewhere out west. He was very funny of course. But that is not what I noticed. It was the incredible force. With which he held his audience. While he rode on his horse. His jokes were not that off-color. His smile was not that sincere. His show was that not that sensational. Reasons for success were not clear. But he still made big money. One day the circus was his. Now he's married to the acrobat. And they're training their kids. Yeah.. Now the jailhouse was empty. All the criminals were gone. The gate was left wide open. And a buck and fawn. Were eating grass in the courtyard. When the warden walked in. And took a rifle from the prison guard. And said to him with a grin. To shoot those deer would be stupid sir. We already got 'em right here. Why not just lock the gates and keep them. With intimidation and fear?. But the warden pulled the trigger. And those deer hit the ground. He said Nobody'll know the difference. And they both looked around.. Yeah.. Well the cop made the showdown. He was sure he was right. He had all of the lowdown. From the bank heist last night. His best friend was a robber. And his wife was a thief. All the children were murderers. They couldn't get no relief. The bungalow was surrounded. When a voice loud and clear. Come out with your hands up. Or we're gonna blow you out of here. There was a face in the window. TV cameras rolled. And they cut to the announcer. And the story was told.. Yeah.. Well the artist looked at the producer. The producer sat back. He said What we have got here. Is a pretty good track. But we don't have a vocal. And we still don't have a song. If we could get this thing accomplished. Nothin' else could go wrong. So he balanced the ashtray. And he picked up the phone. And said Send me a songwriter. Who's drifted far from home. And make sure that he's hungry. And make sure he's alone. And send me a cheeseburger. And a new Rolling Stone. Yeah.. Well the Sioux and Dakota. They lost all of their land. And now a basketball player. Is trying to lend them a hand. Maybe someday he'll be president. He's quite a popular man. But now the chief has reservations. And the white man has plans. There's opposition in Congress. The bill is up against cash. There's really no way of predicting. If it will fly or it will crash. But that's the nature of politics. That's the name of the game. That's how it looks in the tepee. Big winds are blowing again. Yeah.. There's still crime in the city. Said the cop on the beat. I don't know if I can stop it. I feel like meat on the street. They paint my car like a target. I take my orders from fools. Meanwhile some kid blows my head off. Well I play by their rules. So now I'm doing it my way. I took the law in my own hands. Here I am in the alleyway. A wad of cash in my pants. I get paid by a ten year old. He says he looks up to me. There's still crime in the city. But it's good to be free. Yeah.. Now I come from a family. That has a broken home. Sometimes I talk to my daddy. On the telephone. When he says that he loves me. I know that he does. But I wish I could see him. Wish I knew where he was. But that's the way all my friends are. Except maybe one or two. Wish I could see him this weekend. Wish I could walk in his shoes. But now I'm doin' my own thing. Sometimes I'm good then I'm bad. Although my home has been broken. It's the best home I ever had. Yeah.. Well I keep getting younger. My life's been funny that way. Before I ever learned to talk. I forgot what to say. I sassed back to my mummy. I sassed back to my teacher. I got thrown out of Sunday School. For throwin' bibles at the preacher. Then I grew up to be a fireman. I put out every fire in town. Put out everything smoking. But when I put the hose down. The judge sent me to prison. Gave me life without parole. Wish I never put the hose down. Wish I never got old..