He woke up with a billfold full of dust Coffee on the burner, rent past due The landlord tapped twice on the screen door Said, “Sir, I need that money from you” He pawned his watch down on Canal Street Kept his ring, kept his last clean shirt Walked home 'cause there's little gas in the tank Livin' with a pocket full of hard-earned hurt He's just hanging on, doing what he's got to do Sweat in his mouth, yeah, black coffee too Sing your way through the ache and the noise Ain’t got no silver, but still got a voice When the bills keep coming, He'll keep moving through That’s just what a poor man's soul learns to do Mama told him, “Baby, keep your head up Don’t let hard times tell you who you are” So he works that second job without a fuss Wiping tables at the corner bar Tip jar's empty like his hopes and dreams Bossman says, “You can cash out now” But he just smiles through the pain and screams 'Cause this life don't give a rip anyhow He's just hanging on, doing what he's got to do Sweat in his mouth, yeah, black coffee too Sing your way through the ache and the noise Ain’t got no silver, but still got a voice When the bills keep coming, He'll keep moving through That’s just what a poor man's soul learns to do One more shift, one more shot One more day that the sun comes round His life's been bent, but it don’t break easy Do all he can not to let troubles get him down He's just hanging on, doing what he's got to do Sweat in his mouth, yeah, black coffee too Sing your way through the ache and the noise Ain’t got no silver, but still got a voice When the bills keep coming, He'll keep moving through That’s just what a poor man's soul learns to do
