I've been sitting here crying since long before the day be-gan
With my pockets full of nothing but broken dreams and my head in my empty hands
The winnings that I thought I had and come so far to get
Are further away then they've ever been, they've been taken by anoth-er man

I wouldn't take a train for home even if I could
Cause they've been saving their joy for the hometown boy who went away to make it good
I bet they cleared away the parlour so my Ma can dance me in the door
And the old man can wink, and pour me a drink and ask me what the tears are for

It's harder to try a-gain than it was to be-gin
A man can play a lone hand in a high stakes game, but it doesn't mean he's gonna win
And somehow I've got to keep from getting further down
Before I buy myself a bottle of cheap escape, and a ticket to anoth-er town

I know I'm not crying 'cause I think I've had it mighty tough
I did my best with all the rest, but it just wasn't good e-nough
And I've been working and training too long just to make it here
To merely swallow my pride and walk outside and come back anoth-er year

It's harder to try a-gain than it was to be-gin
A man can play a lone hand in a high stakes game, but it doesn't mean he's gonna win
And somehow I've got to keep from getting further down
Before I buy myself a bottle of cheap escape, and a ticket to anoth-er town
I want to drown in the grape and make my escape, on a ticket to anoth-er town