Well, after all these years of running 'round
Always flying high and falling down
I gotta get back to the way I was
Gonna turn it all 'round just because

And everybody's talking about the shape I'm in
They say, "Boy, you ain't a poet, just a drunk with a band"
All over and over, again and again
Lord, they don't know about the places I've been

It gets hard out here, I know it don't look it
I used to have heart but the highway took it
The game was right but the deal was crooked
Lord, I'll make it perfectly clear, it gets hard out here

I guess there must be something I'm missing
My momma told me I should've gone into easy listening
Going with the band 'cause I thought it was cool
Oh good Lord, I should've gone back to school

Oh, pretty darling, it'll be okay
You know one of these days I'm gonna take you away
She said, "Oh sweet daddy, you're probably right
You know we might get lucky but it won't be tonight"

It gets hard out here, I know it don't look it
I used to have heart but the highway took it
The game was right but the deal was crooked
Lord, I'll make it perfectly clear, it gets hard out here

I know it don't seem it
I said I tried but I never did mean it
Nobody's listening so we might as well scream it
Oh, God, we're all outta beer, it gets hard out here