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

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 it's a hard-earned mile

Wanna sweat like hell, throw a hammer down

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

You 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

If you wanna trade, I'd say it's a hard-earned mile

Wanna sweat like hell, throw a hammer down

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

You know I didn't take no easy way out

Everyone lately's scarin' me

It's all backdoor deals and therapy

The only callous I have grown is in my mind