Why ya gotta go and sell your soul?
Why ya gotta talk about Engine Joe
Like he's some guy in a fairy tale book?
Everybody knows that he just cooks
Baked beans and brisket in a BBQ stand
On the dirty side of town.
He's a dirty old man.
But he likes his job more than the rest
Who work with him and consider him the best.
Still he wouldn't care if you called him a rat.
But why ya gotta talk about Engine Joe like that?
In the very same city on the other side of town
Lives a funny little lady and a rodeo clown.
And she swears she's loved him all her life.
Promises one day he's gonna make her his wife.
Have a couple kids and a little plot of land.
Open themselves up a BBQ stand,
Just like Engine Joe on the other side of town.
Funny little lady and the rodeo clown.
Rodeo clown thinks that Engine Joe is fat.
Still he wouldn't talk about Engine Joe like that.
Once upon a time there was a race car racer,
And he had himself a suped up AMC Pacer.
It was shaped like a bubble, but it drove really fast.
Racer couldn't drive so the Pacer it crashed.
Got himself a guy with a truck that could tow her.
Still he said he didn't think that guy could fix its motor.
But that guy he didn't care; he fixed it just the same.
I guess that's how Engine Joe got his name.
Now he wrangles beef in a BBQ stand
Ever since the day that he mangled his hand.
He doesn't care. He just keeps on smokin'
Cigarettes and brisket man
I ain't jokin'
Now everything's fine,
But I'm still gonna whine.
You've got eyes that shine,
But they aren't mine unless I pay for them in full.
And that's the rule.
And I guess that's cool.
But I ain't no fool,
And I won't be made to look like I'm some troglodyte.
I won't come home until it's night.
Can't be seen just hanging around,
Unless you come along.
Girl if you go, I'm gonna stay home.
But if you stay, I'll go away,
And I won't come back all night.
No that ain't right, but let's not fight.
These words are trite, but there the only ones I know.
You must have things to do,
And I can't always be with you.
There's a thousand reasons I could name,
But every single one is lame.
You take these chains, break these ties that bind me my whole life.
Take me home, I don't mind, and now we both hate life.
Face down in some bar you'll find me waiting, wife,
Calling out your name.
Now wait a minute dear.
Get yourself another beer.
And as long as you're there,
Get me one too and we'll work this thing all out.
I had no doubt.
Don't you sit there and pout.
What's this all about, oh I forgot again.
Little drunk fists across the tip of my chin.
Guess I should've known that they'd be there again.
Little drunk fists across the width of my jaw.
Gets sometimes to where I just don't feel them at all.
That's OK, I can wait another day
For these stupid concessions to be made.
And you weren't to blame.
We put Jack and Johnny Walkers' names
In the policeman's notebook when he came.
Little drunk fists need some time to there own.
Went out to meet some friends but ended up all alone.
Little drunk fists find and pick up a phone,
But fumble on the numbers when they try to dial home.
(Chorus)
Little drunk fists reach for just one more round.
But end up buying a sixth when the fifth hits the ground.
Little baby fists touch my face; clutch my nose,
Though they'd rather touch their mother's, but she don't know.
Little drunk fists drove the car home last night,
Turned left on Oak Street when they should have turned right.
I'm broken down and barrel chested again.
Some people try for all their lives but they never make a dent.
You hang around broke, bored and restless again.
Strung out stripped of all your pride with all your money spent.
But it's not the same when you're not here.
Let me make that picture clear.
It's not the same when you're not around.
I'm left alone here in this town.
But it's just as lame for you,
When you leave me feeling so damn cold.
I'm wishing we could both get old before
Either one of us pass this way again.
And it's not the same when you're not with me, my dear.
I've been trying all night long make that picture clear.
Still, whose to blame if you don't miss me when I'm not here.
Cartoons, clowns and run down towns tend to lose their charms over the years
But it's not the same when you're not here.
Let me make that picture clear
But it's just as lame for you,
When you leave me feeling so damn cold.
I'm wishing we could both get old before
Either one of us pass this way again.
But it's not the same when you're not here.
Let me make that picture clear
It's not the same when you're not around.
I'm left alone here in this town.
And it's not the same when you don't call.
It's not the same that way at all.
But it's just as lame for you,
When you leave me feeling so damn cold.
I'm wishing we could both get old before
Either one of us pass this way again.
(c)1997 Bait Sandwich Songs (ASCAP) and Elttilood Publishing (ASCAP). All rights reserved.