You came up from nowhere to a place in the spotlight

Smiled at the front rows as you gazed to the rear

The young men got jealous and the young girls got uptight

As they stared to the wings where you would re-appear.

Your parents were poor and you brothers sought favours

Your sisters stitched dresses from left-over silk

In your dreams you would dress in the role of a saviour

Who would lead them to the land of sweet honey and milk.

Chorus:

Rock 'n roll vagabond, you're the king, we're the pawns

Give us a dream that we can lean upon

Rock 'n roll vagabond, do your thing, sing a song

You give us reasons for carrying on.

They said you'd go nowhere and your time was being wasted

Impossible dreams, they even said you were lazy

It was hard but you reached for the life you had tasted

In a dream long ago which no longer seemed crazy.

There were paths laid before you said to lead to contentment

But the goals they set down didn't do much for you

You spent most of your time in a dream in the basement

With a bottle of wine and a good friend or two.

Chorus: Rock 'n roll vagabond etc.

You were born with a charm that could break down resistance

And a voice that you filled up with feeling and fire

When you sang we forgot our lonely existence

The young men had dreams and the young girls desire.

Chorus: Rock 'n roll vagabond etc.

You stand in the spotlight like some neon warrior

On the stage you're at home and we're merely your guests

In your songs you talk to me you come as close as a whisper

On the street you don't know me but nevertheless.

Chorus:

Rock 'n roll vagabond, you're the king, we're the pawns

Give us a dream that we can lean upon

Rock 'n roll vagabond, do your thing, sing a song

You give us reasons for carrying on.