He was an artist and a writer 
and a poet and a friend 
in a man's life he will take a fall 
but how low he goes it just depends  
 
he's shooting dope in the men's room 
at the station daly city train 
have you ever seen an angel well I know I have 
they'll stay here for a while and then they'll fly away  
 
Jackyl had a beer in his hand last time I seen him 
when he rolled the dice he never thought twice 
never thought twice about being  
 
some grown up and some grow old 
but what about the kid who never learned the rules 
spent all these years on this earth 
when you look back it's just a flicker of time  
 
Jackyl was one of the one's that he was one 
of the one's that was already saved 
through all the evil and wreckage 
he maintained a sense of himself  
 
some men are in prison even though they walk the streets at night 
other men who got the lockdown are free as a bird in flight