Well, after all these years [bad word] 'round
Always flying high and fallin' down
I gotta get back to the way I was
Gonna turn it all 'round just because
And everybody's talkin' about the shape I'm in
They say "boy, you ain't a poet, just a [bad word] with a band."
All over and over, again and again,
Lord, they don't know about the places I've been

It gets hard out here
I know it don't look it
I used to have heart, but the highway took it
The game was right, but the deal was crooked
Lord, I'll make it perfectly clear, it gets hard out here

I guess there must be something I'm missing
My momma told me I should've gone into easy listenin'
Going with the band 'cause I thought it was cool
Oh, good Lord, I should've gone back to school

Oh, pretty darlin', it'll be OK

You know one of these days I'm gonna take you away
She said, "oh, sweet daddy, you're probably right,
You know we might get lucky, but it won't be tonight"

It gets hard out here
I know it don't look it
I used to have heart, but the highway took it
The game was right, but the deal was crooked
Lord, I'll make it perfectly clear, it gets hard out here

I know it don't seem it
I said I tried, but I never did mean it
Nobody's listening so we mine as well scream it
Oh, God, we're all outta beer
It gets hard out here