[Verse 1] Clock on the wall keeps laughin' Another sunrise Same red clay These hands been workin' since high school Bills keep sayin' I gotta stay Boss man talkin' 'bout "next year" Like that carrot on a rusted chain My back's got miles like an old dirt road But my heart still walks the flame [Chorus] I can't retire down here But I'm savin' up somethin' you can't see When I punch my last timecard They're gonna open up that gate for me St. Peter gonna shake my hand Say "Son You sure showed up late" "Clocked in your whole life Now come on inside" "Happy retirement at the Golden Gate" (yeah) Happy retirement at the Golden Gate [Verse 2] Trailer park rent keeps climbin' Groceries weighin' on that old check stub Kids got dreams and worn-out sneakers We stretch a dollar like a rubber band Love Still we pass that plate on Sunday Sing off-key but we still believe 'Cause there's a porch swing in the Promised Land Got my name carved on the seat [Chorus] [Bridge] [low vocal register] One day I'm clockin' out for good Boy [fiddle swell] Timecard stamped in streaks of gold [call-and-response] Lead: "You made do with what I gave ya" Choir: "You kept goin' You held on" Lead: "You showed up when it was heavy" Choir: "Now the heavy load is gone" [soaring guitar riff] He'll hand me that rocked-out halo Like a beat-up old ball cap Say "You never got your pension check So heaven's pickin' up the tab" (come on now) [Chorus] [Outro] [breakdown with harmonica and mandolin] So I'll keep grindin' on this red dirt 'Til my number's called I'm through Might not retire on this ol' earth But I'll clock out right beside You [guitar solo]
