No one on this side of town

Knows a good place for a boy to drown

They look at me so strange when I talk

I wish I was a tradesman

Learnin' from some beat down old layman

On some hillside they ain't named yet

Sleepin' next to mountain fire smoke.

And everyone lately's scarin' me

It's all backdoor deals and therapy

The only callous I've grown is in my mind

I wish I was a tradesman

Playin' with some tuned up tired string band

Somewhere out by the badlands

Way past closin' time.

So if you wanna trade, I'd say its a hard earned mile

Wanna sweat like hell, throw a hammer down

And know that the old feelin' of a five o'clock smile

And know I didn't take no easy way out.

There's somethin' more that I need

Than accolades and sympathy

Fatiguin' in the summer heat

While they smoke big cigars

So give me somethin' I can't fake

That rich boys can't manipulate

Somethin' real that they can't take

'cause, lord, I'm not your star.

So if you wanna trade, I'd say its a hard earned mile

Wanna sweat like hell, throw a hammer down

And know that the old feelin' of a five o'clock smile

And know I didn't take no easy way out.

And everyone lately's scarin' me

It's all backdoor deals and therapy

The only callous that I've grown is in my mind.