[Intro] Yeah Al Clay in the place Lemme take you back Back to eighty-five [Verse 1] Old house breathin out smoke in the sky Frost on the inside glass, yeah, that’s how dry Parental Unit in the doorway, hands on hips Say, “Boys, that woodpile better move, double quick” Me and my little brother, Scott Lyle, that’s kin But everybody call him Egg, slick grin, thin Point at the stacked-up logs by the shed “That whole mountain in by dark,” what they said I’m pullin on gloves, breath ghost in the air See my own footsteps freezin on the back stair I say, “Egg, come on, man, hurry, let’s roll” He say, “Soon as I lace these shoes, I’m gon’ go” [Chorus] Egg, you shafted me again (oh Egg) High tops fresh, but you late, my friend I’m out here breakin my back in the wind While you inside stayin warm, wearin that grin Egg, you shafted me again (yeah, yeah) Firewood stack till my arms won’t bend Cold on my face, but I got thick skin Big brother take the load, you slide in at the end [Verse 2] Hour one, I’m haulin that bark and dust Splinters in my thumbs, sweater turnin rust Every log on my shoulder like another “why?” See the kitchen light glowin when I look inside He at the table, tongue out, workin that lace Perfect little crisscross, slow on purpose, no haste I stomp snow off boots, yell, “You done yet, clown?” He say, “Left one perfect, gotta start on the right one now” Back outside, breath burnin, nose all red Stack climbin higher by the window ledge My heartbeat drummin while the daylight fade I’m the eldest, that’s the tax that you pay [Chorus] Egg, you shafted me again (oh Egg) High tops clean, but your hands stay clean I’m out here turnin this chill to steam So we don’t freeze when the night wind scream Egg, you shafted me again (hey) Log after log till my back say “when” You stroll out slow when the work all end Say, “Need any help?” with that same old grin [Bridge] [Beat drops to bass and claps] End of the day, pile tall like pride Parental Unit peek out, “Nice job, you two, nice” Egg brush snow off one lonely stick Hold it up like a trophy, “Yeah, we did that quick” (c’mon) I just stare, sweat dry on my face Laugh in my chest, but it sting in the same place Think, “One day, little bro, tables gon’ turn” But for now it’s just me keepin that stove burn [Chorus] Egg, you shafted me again (again, again) Same old story from way back when Eighty-five winter cut deep like tin But big bro still the one bring the warmth in Egg, you shafted me again (oh Egg) High tops laced, but you missed the strain Yet somehow both of us share that flame Family first, even when you play that game [Outro] Yeah, that’s the tale from eighty-five Cold day, warm stove, we survived Al Clay still laughin through the ache ‘Cause every load I carried helped the man you’d make
