[Verse 1] Pulled in on fumes and a paper map Tie too loose and my boots too black I sold a set of knives and a folding tent To a room full of men where the daylight went The barkeep nodded, said, "Keep your head low" I bought me a beer and a sweet back row Then that tall man turned with a grin so mean Had a gold tooth flash and a stare like steam [Pre-Chorus] I reached out first, like a fool in a rush His grip hit hard like a cattle-truck Whole room went still as a church bell ring And I felt that silence start to sting [Chorus] That honky-tonk handshake Set the whole night shaking Wrong cowboy, wrong place Now my hands won't stop quaking Honky-tonk handshake I should've walked away Now I'm watchin' that door And that gold tooth all day [Verse 2] He said, "Name's Red Jack," and he laughed real slow Took my business card and my cheap cologne Then he slid it back with a knuckle tap Like a warning note in a paper nap Every time I blink, he's across the room Every time I breathe, that glance cuts through I hear spurs on wood and a chair scrape back And my good luck runs off down a gravel track [Pre-Chorus] I tried to smile like I had no fear But my throat went dry when he leaned right near He said, "You got nerve," and he cracked that grin I said, "Just passing through," and I prayed for wind [Chorus] That honky-tonk handshake Set the whole night shaking Wrong cowboy, wrong place Now my hands won't stop quaking Honky-tonk handshake I should've walked away Now I'm watchin' that door And that gold tooth all day [Bridge] Near closing time, I slid for the light But Red Jack rose up on the edge of the night He tipped his hat, let the whole room see Then he waved me over like he knew me I shook my head, and I felt that chill One bad hello can pay a whole town bill So I backed on out with my heart in my throat Left my beer half-full and my pride half broke [Final Chorus] That honky-tonk handshake Set the whole night shaking Wrong cowboy, wrong place Now my hands won't stop quaking Honky-tonk handshake I should've walked away Now I'm watchin' that door And that gold tooth all day [Outro] If you ride alone through a barroom blaze Mind every smile and the way it stays 'Cause one hard grip from a stranger's hand Can turn a salesman into a nervous man
