steely dan's charly freak

[naldo]

i want to know the meaning of the song

[Sara]

I haven't been able to find anything online about what Steely Dan intended this song to mean - nor even someone else's opinion on it! I did find this list of links that may lead to something if you have time to dig through them: Steely Dan Links

After reading the lyrics myself, my interpretation is Charlie was a man with a sad ending to his life. Maybe the ring is a wedding ring - from a failed marriage, or a spouse who died? I think he dies from drugs or alcohol bought with the money from selling his only possession of value (both monetary and personal value) - but I don't know what the "in fifteen ways" means in reference to his death. Maybe his heart was breaking?

Anyone else have an interpretation or info from another source?

CHARLIE FREAK

Charlie Freak had but one thing to call his own

Three weight ounce pure golden ring no precious stone

Five nights without a bite

No place to lay his head

And if nobody takes him in

He'll soon be dead

On the street he spied my face I heard him hail

In our plot of frozen space he told his tale

Poor man, he showed his hand

So righteous was his need

And me so wise I bought his prize

For chicken feed

Newfound cash soon begs to smash a state of mind

Close inspection fast revealed his favorite kind

Poor kid, he overdid

Embraced the spreading haze

And while he sighed his body died

In fifteen ways

When I heard I grabbed a cab to where he lay

'Round his arm the plastic tag read D.O.A.

Yes Jack, I gave it back

The ring I could not own

Now come my friend I'll take your hand

And lead you home

[Maxcaffein]

You're thoughts on the song are right on. The fifteen ways I believe is a reference to perhaps 15 years of a marriage that he remembers as he slips away.