Have fun, but stay clear of the needle, call home on your sisters birthday.

You want to grow up to paint houses like me, a trailer in my yard till you're 23
You want to be old after 42 years, keep dropping the hammer and grinding the gears

Well, I used to go out in a Mustang, a 302 Mach One in green.
Me and your Mama made you in the back and I sold it to buy her a ring.
And I learned not to say much of nothing and I figured you already know
but in case you dont or maybe forgot, Ill lay it out real nice and slow

Dont call what your wearing an outfit. Dont ever say your car is broke.
Dont worry about losing your accent, a Southern Man tells better jokes.
Have fun but stay clear of the needle. Call home on your sisters birthday.
Dont tell them youre bigger than Jesus, dont give it away.

Six months in a St. Florian foundry, they call it Industrial Park.
Then hospital maintenance and Tech School just to memorize Frigidaire parts.
But I got to missing your Mama and I got to missing you too.
So I went back to painting for my old man and I guess thats what Ill always do

So dont try to change who you are boy, and dont try to be who you aint.
And dont let me catch you in Kendale with a bucket of wealthy-mans paint.

Dont call what your wearing an outfit. Dont ever say your car is broke.
Dont sing with a fake British accent. Dont act like your familys a joke.
Have fun, but stay clear of the needle, call home on your sisters birthday.
Dont tell them youre bigger than Jesus, Dont give it away.

Dont give it away.