They say, "Pull yourself up by 'em," but that's kinda hard to do

When you can't afford to buy 'em, you make do without those boots

He didn't leave it in the Lord's hands to make something of himself

Just another bluegrass orphan with a restless soul to sell

He didn't choose that hard road he was walking

But he knew that it was his road just the same

Climbed from have-not up to have-it

Drove that corn mash in the wagon

Pulled his life up on the back of his bootlegging bootstraps

He had hands as rough as leather and an empire to build

Never buckled under pressure like that hidden copper still

It was all uphill

He didn't choose that hard road he was walking

But he knew that it was his road just the same

Climbed from have-not up to have-it

Drove that corn mash in the wagon

Pulled his life up on the back of his bootlegging bootstraps

Went out those humble beginnings

Things might've looked different

Went rags into riches with that whiskey business

Dug his wheels in hundred proof

Longer miles make better views

He didn't choose that hard road he was walking

But he knew that it was his road just the same

Climbed from have-not up to have-it

Drove that corn mash in the wagon

Pulled his life up on the back of his bootlegging bootstraps

His bootstraps

His bootlegging bootstraps

Oh, his bootlegging bootstraps

His bootlegging bootstraps