Had a friend the other day, he got in over his head
Went out for big money and wound up lying dead
They stabbed him in the back as he was to get his share
and he went out knowing life can be unfair

Oh friend
Why did you try so hard to pretend
That you could beat your own gut feelings in the end
Oh we're gonna miss you 'round here, good old friend

He'd always been so careful with the things he'd done before
Never stepped on anyone, he never came in their backdoor
But that night he broke one of his own rules
and he went out knowing life can be so cruel

Roger McGuinn  "Cardiff Rose"  
Columbia Records 1976