I went down to the river
with a rotten lemon peel
Thought I'd catch myself a catfish
to make my evening meal

When a voice came from the bushes...

"Where's your fishing license, son?"

He took my supper and my pickup truck
For the evil I had done.

That's not the end of the story.

I was fined a thousand dollars too.

For trying to fill the gap
'tween my belly and my back.

Tell me,
What the hell's a man supposed to do ?

I was sittin' on my front porch,
the way I sometimes do,
when I know that my landlord
is out of town a day or two.

I was sucking on a longneck.
I was strummin' on a song.
Didn't mean no one no disrespect.
Wasn't doing nothing wrong.

When...
I saw that brown patrol car
and a paper...
telling me I gotta move

Now, my stuffs out in the rain
I've got rusty guitar strings

Tell me,
What the hell's a man supposed to do?


I was fingerin' a flat top
Just sittin' by the road
Taking in a rest stop
Takin' off a load

Strummin' on a guitar
Sittin' on a rail
Possessin' no suspicion
I would land in jail

Bobby had some moonshine
Frankie had some pot
Larry had a prayer
that they wouldn't get caught

Larry took a big swig
Larry took a toke
Larry took a tumble
and an E string broke

Havin' a High Time
Doin' no harm
Hey, Hey Cap'n
turn a loose o' my arm

Hey Lawdy Mama
Things sure get turned around
Suspicion of possession
can sure bring you down.

I aint even got a guitar
to sing the "Aint Got Nuthin" blues

Tell me,
What the hell's a man supposed to do?

***