You've seen me here before, near the wharf,
banging away at the old guitar
for the coins and dollars of tourists.
I've seen you pass by...
This is the place for short skirts and wild hair,
old Heart tunes, some Janis,
if it's not too noisy a Joni Mitchell.
I get by, living with Frank
right now, all you can eat in a nutshell
ha, he says. That's fine with me,
if I'm not tired. I come and go,
he doesn't hassle me.

I talk to a lot of people here,
a lot of guys like you. The ones from furthest away
want to get closest to me. If they're from
Australia or Japan it's like they're from
down the block. Honestly, they are more interested
in what I might have done yesterday
than where they've lived their whole lives.

Once in a while a cute guy
takes me out to dinner. It's always some place
I'd never go myself - upscale or unique.
See, they don't get me, even with all those questions.
But yeah, if they're from out of town
and in a nice motel I'll keep singing.
You get to know when one isn't a threat,
but it gets boring - always having that upper hand.

I don't take chances. The songs I sing for money
I know well. There it's only confidence - not manipulation.
I give then their money's worth.
Sometimes the cute guy in the nice hotel room
cries, or worse, wants me to stay. To go away with him,
or for him to settle here, near me. Some are not wholly pathetic:
one might take as much as he gives, one might disappear
entirely, leaving me to disappear after him,
our risings and fallings like waves.

These are the hardest ones to see once more on the street,
ones with whom dreams nearly touched while pummelling
as strangers, ones whom music drew near, who taught me new chords
or suggested songs, those furthest away suddenly close,
then passing the next day when the song is over,
when other strangers toss coins into the case.

You'll pass by that way too, tomorrow,
please don't stop. Let's both wander,
here, and wherever there is.
Maybe some day I'll come see you
on your own street, listen to you play, ride the waves.
I wonder if Frank is home yet,
that's enough for today,
let's go.