[Verse 1]
I've been to Cottontown, Tennessee
Played my heart out, left Missouri in misery
I've seen everything a man can see
Wrote it all down and played it in every key
[Chorus]
Need to break even before we break down
How this living is wearing me out
Trying to keep it going
Is keeping me in the poorhouse
[Verse 2]
Can't remember what I'm working for
Every dollar I make flies right out that open door
How can you win if no one's keeping score?
I don't want much, I just want a little more
[Chorus]
Need to break even before we break down
How this living is wearing me out
Trying to keep it going
Is keeping me in the poorhouse, poorhouse
[Bridge]
Doing everything I can
Never seems to be enough
[Verse 3]
What happened to a guarantee
I can't depend on anything
I've looked everywhere my luck could be
I was told something good's waiting for me
[Chorus]
I need to break even before we break down
How this living is wearing me out
Trying to keep it going
Is keeping me in the poorhouse, in the poorhouse
In the poorhouse, poorhouse
[Instrumental]
