Tried to be a teacher,
But couldn't follow rules.
Tried to be a writer
Investigating fools,
And I tried to be her lover,
But I just caused the blues,
And never once did I try the thing
That never made me lose.
She's trying to get ahead now,
And I'm shufflin' my shoes.
Born to a humble carpenter,
But I never got the tools
To start trying to do the things
That never made me lose.
So I tried to be a father,
But I never understood
Just how much it mattered
And just how much it should.
And then I tried to be a husband,
But I never caught the clues.
I never learned not to bother.
I never learned not to lose.
Tried to be a teacher,
But I couldn't follow rules.
Tried to be a writer
Investigating fools.
Tried to be her lover,
But I just caused the blues.
Never once did I try the thing
That never made me lose.
I said never once did I try the thing
That never made me lose,
Made me lose,
Made me lose.
Tried to be a father,
But I never caught the clues
On tryin' to do the things
That never ever never ever made me lose,
Never made me lose,
Never made me lose.
Leave something far behind you,
Just leave,
Leave us in peace.
Far behind you,
Far behind you,
Leave us in peace.
Leave us in peace.