Lyrics:

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

(Chorus:)
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
And I can pack up and mail in my keys

(Repeat chorus)

Now the smoke fills the air
In this honky tonk bar
And I'm thinkin' bout where I'd rather be
But I burned all my bridges
And I sank all my ships
Now I'm stranded at the edge of the sea

(Repeat chorus)