[Verse 1: Barroom boogie-rock male lead, raspy shouted lead, pounding boogie drums] Letter in the mailbox on a Tuesday afternoon Says my lawn is out of order and I better fix it soon Grass is a quarter inch over the line Fifty dollar penalty, and they underlined the fine Lady with a clipboard and a ruler in her hand Walkin' down the cul-de-sac like she's runnin' the land Measured every blade like she's countin' up a crime Wrote me up for weeds and she wrote me up for lime So I mow it on a Monday and I mow it on a Thursday Mowed it at midnight on my own dang birthday Neighbors on the sidewalk sayin', Earl, just let it go I said, I'll let it go when I'm runnin' the show [Hook: Barroom boogie-rock male lead, full boogie band, crunchy overdriven guitars] Give 'em a quarter inch, they'll take a mile Ruler in the yard and a ticket on the pile I'm runnin' for the board, gon' burn the book Give 'em a quarter inch and you better watch out, look [Verse 2: Barroom boogie-rock male lead, faster boogie-rock shouts, barrelhouse boogie riff] Signs on the lawn sayin' Earl for the Board Speeches at the mailbox, I'm a man of the Lord Promised every neighbor I would shred every rule Paint your door purple, put a hot tub by the pool Won by eleven votes, they gave me a gavel Felt like a king and I was ready to travel First mornin' in office, I'm up with the sun Ruler in my pocket and I'm havin' some fun Walked the whole block and I'm checkin' every yard Every lawn is perfect, man, this job ain't hard Then I get to my house and I kneel in the grass And I measure it twice, and it's over, alas [Hook: Barroom boogie-rock male lead, full boogie band, crunchy overdriven guitars] Give 'em a quarter inch, they'll take a mile Ruler in the yard and a ticket on the pile I'm runnin' for the board, gon' burn the book Give 'em a quarter inch and you better watch out, look [Breakdown: Barroom boogie-rock male lead, pull-cord riff, lead guitar sputters between lines and catches on the third pull] Quarter inch Over the line Wrote myself up Fifty dollar fine Rules are rules Now the rules are mine [Final Hook: Barroom boogie-rock male lead, full boogie band crashes back, raw full voice] Give 'em a quarter inch, they'll take a mile Ruler in the yard and a ticket on the pile I'm runnin' for the board, gon' burn the book Give 'em a quarter inch and you better watch out, look [End]
