One of the most artfully crafted "pop" tunes I've ever heard. I believe this song is about the narrator being an angel of death, literally to the "charlie freak" (heroin addict). At first we cringe from the narrator's seemingly callous pride at taking advantage of the homeless guy's dire straits. The gold ring with no precious stone is probably the guy's own wedding ring - he was happy at least once, and now he has no wife for whatever reason. By the end they assault us with the reality that the narrator neither wanted nor needed the ring, nor was he being selfish by liberating it. He enabled the addict to buy just enough dope to O.D., thus ending his misery. The bells that begin at the moment of death sound to me like the "angel earing his wings" bells, especially as they peal, almost joyously, at the end. The music is especially hymn-like. Lots of possible double meanings: "without a bite", "takes him in", "lead you home".
A great song - what musical skill on that piano Donald. This is a haunting and lovely melody. Well the friend of Charlie Freak was a day late and a dollar short with his compassion. He helped out old Charlie by taking his ring off his hands and making a great trade. In his wisdom he gave Charlie just enough for a couple of meals or something else and got himself a killing in the bargain. When he found out that Charlie died of an OD he felt guilty and all compassionate. So he throws the ring down at the...
A great song - what musical skill on that piano Donald. This is a haunting and lovely melody. Well the friend of Charlie Freak was a day late and a dollar short with his compassion. He helped out old Charlie by taking his ring off his hands and making a great trade. In his wisdom he gave Charlie just enough for a couple of meals or something else and got himself a killing in the bargain. When he found out that Charlie died of an OD he felt guilty and all compassionate. So he throws the ring down at the dead body. His compassion - too little too late. Instead of doing something really significant for Charlie he relieves him of his valuable ring. How typical of the human mentality. "Come my friend now take my hand I'll lead you home." I'll ride in with you to the morgue. What lessons in this for us all.
One of the most artfully crafted "pop" tunes I've ever heard. I believe this song is about the narrator being an angel of death, literally to the "charlie freak" (heroin addict). At first we cringe from the narrator's seemingly callous pride at taking advantage of the homeless guy's dire straits. The gold ring with no precious stone is probably the guy's own wedding ring - he was happy at least once, and now he has no wife for whatever reason. By the end they assault us with the reality that the narrator neither wanted nor needed the ring, nor was he being selfish by liberating it. He enabled the addict to buy just enough dope to O.D., thus ending his misery. The bells that begin at the moment of death sound to me like the "angel earing his wings" bells, especially as they peal, almost joyously, at the end. The music is especially hymn-like. Lots of possible double meanings: "without a bite", "takes him in", "lead you home".
A great song - what musical skill on that piano Donald. This is a haunting and lovely melody. Well the friend of Charlie Freak was a day late and a dollar short with his compassion. He helped out old Charlie by taking his ring off his hands and making a great trade. In his wisdom he gave Charlie just enough for a couple of meals or something else and got himself a killing in the bargain. When he found out that Charlie died of an OD he felt guilty and all compassionate. So he throws the ring down at the...
A great song - what musical skill on that piano Donald. This is a haunting and lovely melody. Well the friend of Charlie Freak was a day late and a dollar short with his compassion. He helped out old Charlie by taking his ring off his hands and making a great trade. In his wisdom he gave Charlie just enough for a couple of meals or something else and got himself a killing in the bargain. When he found out that Charlie died of an OD he felt guilty and all compassionate. So he throws the ring down at the dead body. His compassion - too little too late. Instead of doing something really significant for Charlie he relieves him of his valuable ring. How typical of the human mentality. "Come my friend now take my hand I'll lead you home." I'll ride in with you to the morgue. What lessons in this for us all.
Oops, I meant this as a new post - not a reply. Sorry olegnad.
Oops, I meant this as a new post - not a reply. Sorry olegnad.