Bartender's Blues

Now, I'm just a bartender, and I don't like my work,

But I don't mind the money at all.

I see lots of sad faces and lots of bad cases

Of folks with their backs to the wall.



But I need four walls around me to hold my life,

To keep me from going astray,

And a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight

To keep me from slipping away.



I can light up your smokes, I can laugh at your jokes,

I can watch you fall down on your knees.

I can close down this bar, I can gas up my car,

I can pack up and mail in my key.



But I need four walls around me to hold my life,

To keep me from going astray,

And a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight

To keep me from slipping away.



Now, the smoke fills the air in this honky-tonk bar

And I'm thinking 'bout where I'd rather be.

But I burned all my bridges, I sank all my ships

And I'm stranded at the edge of the sea.



But I need four walls around me to hold my life,

To keep me from going astray,

And a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight

To keep me from slipping away, yeah.