Tryin' to make a livin' it's harder every day
By the time I see a dollar just another bill to pay
I got a wife and family and the bills are pilin' high
These days it ain't easy for a working man to get by

I can't help but wonder what a man suppose to do
I got those hard breaking escalatin' high inflation blues
[ steel ]
By the time I get the payday the money's already gone
Someone's eatin' chicken all I git is the bones
My wife needs a new coat the kids need clothes to school
We're all out of grocery's and it's Tuesday afternoon

Well it could drive a man to drinkin' but I can't afford the booze
I got those hard breaking escalatin' high inflation blues
[ fiddle ]
The cost of livin' keeps goin' up the taxes ain't goin' down
I'm just treadin' water to tryin' not to drown
Mr Courter I know you're up there and I should could use a hen
So won't you please have mercy on a common working man

I just keep on tryin' doin' all that I can do
I got those hard breaking escalatin'