Ha ha ha, yeah!

It was a cold January night

Must have been a blizzard outside

Band just finished playing five sets

Club owner comes up to me and says

"Thanks for the music, man, here's nine dollars

That'll be ten percent for me, ninety cents"

I gave him a dollar, he turned to walk away

I said, "Wait a minute, where's my dime?"

I called my brother the next morning

I said, "Brother, it's so tough, is there no relief?"

He said, "Robert, it takes a keen eye

To know what's a dead end and what's a false start"

Strikin' a pose so gladly

Strokin' the rose and hopin' it clicks

Needin' the job so badly

Prayin' that you're the one that he picks

Breakin' a date to practice

Passin' the hat and countin' the dollars

Makin' yourself attractive

Settin' your sights, you're gettin' your chance today

When they turn you away

It's a false start, baby, but it's not the end (You must believe)

Just a false start, honey, did you make a friend? (That's what counts)

(Yeah! That's okay! That's alright, yeah)

Settin' the clock for seven

Combin' the paper, cover all bases

Tastin' a piece of heaven

Losin' your sleep just seein' their faces

Trustin' a smilin' stranger

Playin' for keeps and learnin' a lesson

Darlin', stay out of danger, yeah

Catchin' your breath, you're gettin' your chance to go

When the answer is "No"

It's a false start, baby, but it's not the end (Not the end)

Just a false start, honey, so you try again (Try again, yeah)

(Say it!)

It's a false start, baby, but it's not the end (Not the end)

Just a false start, honey, so you try again

And again and again, you keep right on tryin', don't give up

(Yay!)