You wanna grow up to paint houses like me With a trailer in my yard till you're 23 You wanna feel old after 42 years Keep dropping the hammer and grinding the gear
Well I used to go out in a Mustang A 302 Mach One in green Till me and your mama made you in the back And I sold it to buy her a ring
And I learned not to say much of nothing So I figure you already know But in case you don't or maybe you forgot I'll lay it out real nice and slow
Don't call what you're wearing an outfit Don't ever say your car is broke Don't worry about losing your accent Cause a Southern Man tells better jokes
Have fun but stay clear of the needle Call home on your sister's birthday Don't tell them you're bigger than Jesus Don't give it away Don't give it away
Five years in a St. Florian foundry They call Industrial Park I worked hospital maintenance and Tech School Just to memorize Frigidaire parts
But I got to missing your mama And I got to missing you too So I went back to painting for my old man And I guess that's what I'll always do
So don't let 'em take who you are boy And don't try to be who you ain't And don't let me catch you in Kendale With a bucket of wealthy man's paint
Don't call what you're wearing an outfit Don't ever say your car is broke Don't sing with a fake British accent Boy don't act like your family's a joke
Have fun, but stay clear of the needle Call home on your sister's birthday Don't tell them you're bigger than Jesus Don't give it away Don't give it away