canção supostamente baseada numa das muitas histórias da lendária vida nocturna de waits: ele e um amigo estavam a sair de um bar quando viram um grupo de homens a bater noutro. 

decidiram ajudar a vítima e envolveram-se numa briga feia, sem saberem que os homens eram polícias não fardados a fazer justiça pelas próprias mãos. 

acabaram por passar a noite na cadeia, mas mais tarde waits processou a esquadra local - e ganhou o caso.

Well I woke up this morning With the cold water
Woke up this morning With the cold water With the cold
Police at the station And they don't look friendly Well they don't look friendly
Police at the station And they don't look friendly They don't look friendly Well they don't
Blind or crippled Sharp or dull I'm reading the Bible By a 40 watt bulb
What price freedom Dirt is my rug Well I sleep like a baby With the snakes and the bugs
Well the stores are open But I ain't got no money I ain't got no money
Stores are open but I Ain't got no money Well I ain't
Found an old dog And he seems to like me Seems to like me Well he seems to like me
Found an old dog and he Seems to like me Well he seems
Seen them fellows with the card board signs
Scrapin up a little $ To buy a bottle of wine
Pregnant women and The Vietnam vets I say
Beggin on the freeway Bout as hard as it gets
Well I slept in the graveyard It was cool and still Cool and still It was cool and still
Slept in the graveyard It was cool and still Cool and still and it Was cool
Slept all night in the Cedar grove I was born to ramble Born to rove
Some men are searchin for the Holy Grail
But there ain't nothin sweeter Than ridin the rails
I look 47 but I'm 24 Well they shooed me away
From here the time before Turned there their backs
And they locked their doors I'm watching T.V. in The window of a furniture store
Well I woke up this morning With the cold water
Woke up this morning With the cold water With the cold