Now you're lookin' at a man who's gettin' kinda mad
I had lots of love, but it's all been bad
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive
My fishing pole's broke, the creek is full of sand
My woman run away with another man
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive
A distant uncle passed away and left me quite a batch
And I was livin' high until the fatal day
That just proves I wasn't born, I was only hatched
Everything against me and it got me down
If I jumped in the river, I would probably drown
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

These shabby shoed I'm wearin' all the time
Is full of holes and nails
And brother if I stepped on a worn out dime
I bet a nickel I could tell you if it was heads or tails
I'm not gonna worry wrinkles in my brow
'Cause nothing's ever gonna be all right no how
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive