Steve Earle

Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough)

Steve Earle


I got a job but it ain't nearly enough 
A twenty thousand dollar pickup truck 
Belongs to me and the bank and some funny talkin' man from Iran 
I left the service and got a G.I. loan 
I got married bought myself a home 
Now I hang around this one horse town and do the best than I can 

Gettin' tough 
Just my luck 
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough 
Gettin' cold 
I've been told 
Nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy 

Been goin' nowhere down a one-way track 
I'd kill to leave it but ain't no turnin' back 
Got the wife and the kids and what would everybody say 
My brother's standin' on a welfare line 
And any minute now I might get mine 
Meanwhile it's the I.R.S. and the devil to pay 

I hit the beer joints every Friday night 
Spend a little money lookin' for a fight 
It don't matter if I lose or win 
'Cause Monday I'm back on the losin' end again