[Intro] [Spoken]

Well, gather 'round this ol' barstool, friends, and lemme spin ya a yarn 'bout a fella who learned the hard way that life's a honky tonk two-step—stumble, dust off, and keep dancin' for the Man upstairs.

[Verse 1]

I hit the road at eighteen, pockets fulla dust and dreams,

Mama's tears still wet on my sleeve, but I chased them city beams.

Lone star in a neon jungle, punchin' clocks and dodgin' rain,

Felt like the world's boot on my neck, drownin' sorrow in cheap grain.

Whined to the mirror 'bout my luck, "Why me, Lord, why so blue?"

But that pity party's just a trap, pullin' you down like a bad tattoo.

[Chorus]

So I yanked them bootstraps high, said, "Boy, it's you 'gainst the wind,"

No silver spoon or lucky star, just calloused hands and a grin.

Did it for the Lord, no promises, no ribbon on the prize,

Work from can to can't, start square one at sunrise.

Ain't no lookin' back, just forward through the ache,

Bootstraps and the Good Book— that's the honky tonk break!

[Verse 2]

Years rolled like freight trains, haulin' hurt and hammerin' nails,

Lost jobs, lost loves, lost sleep—hell, even lost my own tales.

Every dawn's a reset button, coffee black as my regrets,

But I tied that knot tighter, ignored the "what ifs" and bets.

Fought the bottle's whisper, the quittin's sweet siren's call,

Stood tall in the storm, 'cause fallin's for the fools who stall.

[Chorus]

So I yanked them bootstraps high, said, "Boy, it's you 'gainst the wind,"

No silver spoon or lucky star, just calloused hands and a grin.

Did it for the Lord, no promises, no ribbon on the prize,

Work from cant to can, start square one at sunrise.

Ain't no lookin' back, just forward through the ache,

Bootstraps and the Good Book— that's the honky tonk break!

[Bridge]

Now the mirror's got more lines than a roadmap to regret,

Silver threads in my hair, and a heart that's finally set.

I see the young bucks stumblin', eyes wide with that same fire,

And damn if I don't owe 'em a hand, not just a nod and a liar.

Learned to hustle for Heaven, but mercy's the real gold vein—

Time to pass the bootstrap, ease a brother's pain.

[Verse 3]

These days I tip my hat to the wanderers, share a smoke and a yarn,

Tell 'em the road's a rascal, but grace lights up the dark.

Still start at square one, but now with a wink and a prayer,

For the Lord and the lost souls, breathin' that honky tonk air.

No throne waitin', just a stool and a song 'bout the fight,

But empathy's my new buckle—keeps me steady through the night.

[Chorus] [Outro]

So I yanked them bootstraps high, said, "Boy, it's you 'gainst the wind,"

No silver spoon or lucky star, just calloused hands and a grin.

Did it for the Lord, no promises, no ribbon on the prize,

Work from cant to can, start square one at sunrise.

Ain't no lookin' back, just forward through the ache,

Bootstraps and the Good Book— that's the honky tonk break!

Yeah, that's the break...