now you re lookin at a man that s gettin kind a mad i had lots of luck but it s all been bad no matter how i struggle and strive i ll never get out of this world alive my fishin 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 living high until that fatal day a lawyer proved i wasn t born i was only hatched every thing s against me and it s 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 shoes 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 nothin s ever gonna be alright nohow no matter how i struggle and strive i ll never get out of this world alive