(Steve Collom)

Tryin' to make a livin' gets harder every day
By the time I see a dollar there's another bill to pay
I got a wife and family and the bills are pilin' high
These days it ain't easy for a working man to get by.

I can't help but wonder
What a man's suppose to do
I got those hard breaking
Escalatin' high inflation blues.

--- Instrumental ---

By the time I get to payday the money's already gone
Someone's eatin' chicken all I git are the bones
My wife needs a new coat the kids need clothes for school
We're all out of grocery's and it's Tuesday afternoon .

Well, it could drive a man to drinkin'
But I can't afford the booze
I got those hard breaking
Escalatin' high inflation blues.

--- Instrumental ---

The cost of livin' keeps goin' up and taxes ain't goin' down
I'm just treadin' water and tryin' not to drown
Mr Carter I know you're up there and I should could use a hand
So won't you please have mercy on a common working man.

I just keep on tryin'
Doin' all that I can do
I got those hard breaking
Escalatin' high inflation blues (yodel)...