Tradesman

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 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 it's a hard-earned mile Wanna sweat like hell, throw a hammer down And know that the old feelin' of a fivе o'clock smile And no, 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 If you wanna trade, I'd say it's 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 no, I didn't take no easy way out Everyone lately's scarin' me It's all backdoor deals and therapy The only callous that I've grown is in my mind