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 learning from some beat down old layman

On some hillside, they ain't named yet

Sleeping next to mountain fire smoke

And everyone lately's scaring 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 closing 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 feeling of a five o'clock smile

And know I didn't take no easy way out

There's something more that I need than accolades and sympathy

Fatiguin' in the summer heat while they smoke big cigars

So give me something I can't fake

That rich boys can't manipulate

Something 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 feeling of a five o'clock smile

And know I didn't take no easy way out

And everyone lately's scaring me

It's all backdoor deals and therapy

The only callous I've grown is in my mind