Talkin' Prairie Boy

"Talkin' Prairie Boy"

Buddy's old man is back on the booze
He's swinging a driver at a big bull moose
That keeps getting on the goddamn property
Or so he says

Cigarettes are expensive and whiskey ain't cheap
And winters are bitter, but the summers are sweet
And you can get some modestly priced smokes over at the Rez
If you're so inclined

Most of my time's spent in a big blue van
Just traveling the country with a five-piece band
Pick a little for the folks and sing when I can
Granted, I'm sober

And other days are for meant for chorin'
Just workin' at the ranch to stave off boredom
And keeping the calves from finding new ways to keel over
Just living the dream

I was cooling my heels down in Tennessee
Post 82, some buddies and me
And we were shooting the shit 'till we ran out of ammunition

Some dude overheard from across the room
And instead of minding his own, he'd just as soon
Sit down next to us and join in on the conversation

Brought over some kinda beer
Something called a I-P-A

East Nashville kid in a cowboy hat
And he couldn't tell a shoe lace from a lariat
And the furthest West he'd ever been is Ohio

He's talking at me, says he's looking for work
And he don't mind getting some dirt on his shirt
And would I be so kind as to hire him on, well, oh, my oh
Surprised he didn't bring a resume

He said but if you're doing fence, then I ain't for hire
And if you're doing hay, then frankly, I wouldn't conspire
To ask me about doing that either

I said, "What are ya good for?" And he said, "Plenty"
I could see this conversation wasn't going any which way
And figured I'd do well just to leave here
"So long buddy"
"You can keep your IPAs"

Yeah, this city life has sure got me tired
And it's hard for a prairie boy to admire all the
Concrete and the towering skyscrapers

So just as soon as I'm able to find my hat
I believe I'll leave and head on back home
Where the tallest buildings are all grain elevators
Long gone to Saskatchewan

Yeah, I'm outta this place and bound for the farm
And I'm not taking no greenhorn along
I have a hard enough time just keeping track of myself

But if you're down in Nashville, and you're trying to look cool
But ya can't tell a pretty palomino from a mule
Take my advice and leave the buckaroo hat on the shelf