Stepped into the office soaked from the rain
Gave the coroner his last name
Said there's somebody I'm here to claim
With the blanket removed he was proven right
From the few features he had heard described
And memories of when his father was still alive
Dad was hurt on the job when he was twenty two
Doctors patched him up as best they knew
But the pain on his side they never could subdue
Gave him a script to get through the day
Though his hand couldn't grip in the same way
Numbed up and foggy he was sent along his way
When the hurt was heavy the pills were there
To hold him over and though slightly impaired
As long as he kept his head down nobody cared
But the job got harder the dose got bigger
They could deal with the sins but not with the sinner
Boss gave him some phony line out the door
Told him don't worry son you're still a winner
As the bills piled higher he’d meet them up there
But the doc was expensive so he switched to the mare
Rode that pony on his longest nights, faith dissipating in the air
Bounced around town but no matter where he'd go
Hold down a job about a week or so
Besides, anything he made was spent trying to get him to feel whole
So he left his family saying he'd be back
As soon as he got their finances on track
Headed off with his clothes stuffed in a sack
Kept their eyes on the road waiting for his reply
But the help that he promised never would arrive
Family moved on and left their hope behind
Strength of a man judged not by what his mind could be
But only by what his body can give to the company
Had the will to make it home but ended up dying alone
As the suffering broken pieces of another unknown
Few possessions he had were held in a bag
Given to his son who took one last glance
At the body that left a soul without a chance