In 1997, this song was also put on Midnight Oil's US promo-only "the best of the b-sides" compilation.
Wharf Rat
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blind and dirty, he asked me for a dime, a dime for a cup of coffee
I got no dime, I got some time to hear his story
My name is August West, and I love my Pearly Baker better than all my wine
More than my wine, more than my maker, though he's no friend of mine
Half of my life, I spent doing time for some other fucker's crime
The other half I've spent stumbling 'round, drunk off of Burgundy wine
Gotta get back on my feet someday
The good Lord willing, if He says I may
I know that the life I'm living's no good
I'll get a new start, live the life I should
I'll get up and fly away
I'll get up and fly away
I'll get up and fly away, fly away
I got up and wandered, I wandered downtown
Nowhere to go, just to hang around
I got a girl named Bonnie Lee
I know that girl's been true to me
I know she's been, I'm sure she's been true to me
I know she's been, I'm sure she's been true to me
Girlfriend has been true
She's been true to me, true to my dying day
I said, sure she's been true
Wharf Rat is a poignant song that tells the story of an impoverished old man who is down on his luck and living in destitution. The singer encounters the man down by the docks of the city and is asked for a dime to purchase a cup of coffee. Despite not having a dime to give, the singer listens to the old man's story. The old man introduces himself as August West and shares that he loves his Pearly Baker more than all his wine and even more than his maker.
August West reveals that he has spent half of his life in prison for someone else's crime and the other half stumbling around drunk on Burgundy wine. Nevertheless, he hopes that he can get back on his feet someday if the good Lord is willing. He acknowledges that the life he is living is no good and that he needs to start anew and live the life that he should.
The song shifts to the singer's musings as he wanders downtown with nowhere to go. He expresses his appreciation for his girlfriend Bonnie Lee, who has been true to him through thick and thin, and reflects that she will always be true to him even on his dying day. Ultimately, the song is one of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man down, way down, down by the docks of the city
An old man, who is down on his luck, is sitting near the docks in the city.
Blind and dirty, he asked me for a dime, a dime for a cup of coffee
The old man, who is blind and dirty, asked for a small amount of money to buy a cup of coffee.
I got no dime, I got some time to hear his story
The singer didn't have money to give the old man, but they had some time to listen to the old man's story.
My name is August West, and I love my Pearly Baker better than all my wine
The old man introduces himself as August West and admits that he loves his girlfriend Pearly Baker more than anything, even more than his wine.
More than my wine, more than my maker, though he's no friend of mine
August West reiterates that he loves Pearly Baker more than his wine or any god, who he feels isn't his friend.
Half of my life, I spent doing time for some other fucker's crime
August West reveals that he spent half of his life in prison for someone else's crime.
The other half I've spent stumbling 'round, drunk off of Burgundy wine
The other half of August West's life was spent wandering around, getting drunk on Burgundy wine.
Gotta get back on my feet someday
August West has a desire to get his life back on track at some point.
The good Lord willing, if He says I may
August West acknowledges that his fate is ultimately in God's hands.
I know that the life I'm living's no good
August West admits that his current lifestyle isn't good for him.
I'll get a new start, live the life I should
August West is determined to start anew and live the life he knows he should.
I'll get up and fly away
August West wants to break free from his current situation and start fresh.
Nowhere to go, just to hang around
After getting up and wandering, August West had nowhere to go, so he decided to just hang around downtown.
I got a girl named Bonnie Lee
August West has a girlfriend named Bonnie Lee.
I know that girl's been true to me
August West believes that Bonnie Lee has been faithful to him.
I know she's been, I'm sure she's been true to me
August West is certain that Bonnie Lee has been loyal to him.
Girlfriend has been true
August West reiterates the fact that Bonnie Lee has remained faithful to him.
She's been true to me, true to my dying day
August West is confident that Bonnie Lee will remain loyal to him until the end of his life.
I said, sure she's been true
August West repeats that he knows Bonnie Lee has been faithful to him.
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hilmar Fenger
I'm Dead all the way through…but this version of Wharf Rat absolutely blows me away, Midnight Oil puts their 'rock stamp' on this one!!! Amazing...
LazyFloridian
Yup.... Midnight Oil slayed this recording!
Abel Ashes
This was recorded for a Grateful Dead tribute album. Midnight Oil were the only band asked to participate that didn't know their music. Midnight Oil were not Deadheads. So they listened to a lot of Grateful Dead for the first time before picking this song. I'm not that crazy about the Grateful Dead, but love Midnight Oil.
Paul Setmefree
I've been a deadhead for 28 years now and I love this version of Wharf rat! Good job Midnight Oil!
demonsbutterfly
Awesome version of a classic....
Aviv52
I like both versions -- the Dead were doing it as a cosmic cowboy/alt country song while Midnight Oil made it a rock tune. I have been a fan of the Dead since 1967, and at the same timeI have always liked and respected Midnight Oil.
Gregory Church
I've loved this version, ever since I bought the Dead tribute album, "Deadicated". Thanks for posting!!!
Paul Setmefree
4:58 Sweet guitar lick! Peak
Livia Negidius
FANTASTIC!!!!
Lovly
Love it.