[Verse 1]
Clock in, salute the flame
Same badge, different name
They see my face, they read it wrong
Like I can't stand tall all day long
I take the blame, I take the heat
Mud on my boots, blood in my seat
At work I smile, they want a fight
But I'm still here, I'm still all right
[Pre-Chorus]
Chain of command, I know the drill
Hold my line, I bend, I will
Side-eye cold, they talk too loud
I'm a live wire in a dead-end crowd
[Chorus]
Boots and bruises, that's my flag
Boots and bruises, hard-hat drag
Misunderstood, but I don't fold
I go to war when they call me bold
Boots and bruises, hear me roar
Funny and drunk, then back for more
UDI, I make 'em laugh
Then I march right through the blast
[Verse 2]
Brass on the phone, red tape rain
Another report, another stain
They want clean lines, I bring the dirt
They don't see pain until it hurts
Laugh in the mess, grin through hell
Joke in the smoke, ring the bell
I got a soul they never briefed
Tough on the outside, deep beneath
[Pre-Chorus]
Wrong rank, wrong frame, wrong timing
Still I keep on climbing
They want a puppet, I want truth
I cut through noise like a steel-tooth
[Chorus]
Boots and bruises, that's my flag
Boots and bruises, hard-hat drag
Misunderstood, but I don't fold
I go to war when they call me bold
Boots and bruises, hear me roar
Funny and drunk, then back for more
UDI, I make 'em laugh
Then I march right through the blast
[Bridge]
[Scratch Break]
Hands up, eyes on me
I was built for the wrong degree
Laugh too hard, stand too straight
Still I kick down every gate
[Chorus]
Boots and bruises, that's my flag
Boots and bruises, hard-hat drag
Misunderstood, but I don't fold
I go to war when they call me bold
Boots and bruises, hear me roar
Funny and drunk, then back for more
UDI, I make 'em laugh
Then I march right through the blast
[Outro]
Rough around the edges, that's the code
Heavy heart, heavy load
If they don't get me, that's okay
I'm still a soldier at work today