(Verse 1) I slid into a seat by a guy they call Red Who looked like he’d crawled from a hospital bed. I was bitchin' 'bout bills and a girl who'd gone cold And how this whole town was just gettin' too old. He didn’t look up from his longneck or lime Just said, "Son, you’re killin' my god-awful time. You're talkin' real loud for a man with a drink But you ain't said a damn thing to make a man think." (Chorus) He said, "Quit whinin' 'bout hands that you're holdin' Unless you're ready to fold or go all-in. The sun doesn't care if your heart's in a sling And the bank doesn't care if you're local-league king. Life's just a string of 'I almost had it' And 'God, I’m a fool for the way that I sat it.' The only thing worse than a run of bad luck Is a man who thinks he’s too good for the muck." (Verse 2) I started to argue, "But Red, you don't know— The repo man's comin' and I'm short on the dough." He laughed like a truck with a busted-up gear And held up a hand with two fingers not there. He said, "I lost these to a thresher in June And the wife to a lawyer who sang a new tune. I ain't sayin' it's easy, I'm sayin' it's life And you're bleedin' out over a butter-grade knife." (Chorus) He said, "Quit whinin' 'bout hands that you're holdin' Unless you're ready to fold or go all-in. The sun doesn't care if your heart's in a sling And the bank doesn't care if you're local-league king. Life's just a string of 'I almost had it' And 'God, I’m a fool for the way that I sat it.' The only thing worse than a run of bad luck Is a man who thinks he’s too good for the muck." (Bridge) He pushed his glass over and gave me a wink "The world’s gonna turn whether you swim or sink. So buy me a double and dry up your eyes Ain't nobody savin' a man who just cries." (Chorus) He said, "Quit whinin' 'bout hands that you're holdin' Unless you're ready to fold or go all-in. The sun doesn't care if your heart's in a sling And the bank doesn't care if you're local-league king. Life's just a string of 'I almost had it' And 'God, I’m a fool for the way that I sat it.' The only thing worse than a run of bad luck Is a man who thinks he’s too good for the muck." (Outro) Yeah, the bar light was flickerin' low on the wall And Red didn't mind if I stumbled or crawled. Just "shut up and drink," that’s the gospel he threw And damn if the old man didn’t speak what was true

My Friend Red