Wharf Rat Lyrics

Lyric discussion by trich daddy 

Cover art for Wharf Rat lyrics by Grateful Dead

This is my favorite Dead tune.

floppywoknoodle is right, Purley Baker is indeed a double entendre. Rev Purley Baker was head of the anti-saloon league in the days of prohibition.

Jerry Garcia did a charcoal artwork entitled "August West:" http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/garciawharfrat.jpg

The image is as haunting as the song itself.