Living on bread and wine was easy
for John and James and Mother Mary
and I'm no saint and that's my ball and chain
Cause when I'm passed that silver challis
I always drink my fill until it
knocks me down and tangles up my brain
Yeah buddy, it's a short life, it's a hell of a life
it's a mean old world, when you're kicked to the gutter
and the firewater is the one thing to put out the flame
Walking through the graveyards and sleeping in alleys
telling myself the same old stories
Drinking that blood and calling it holy wine
Looking in windows and seeing a stranger
going through hell like a fallen angel
Feeling my bones getting old long before their time
Yeah buddy, it's a short life, it's a hell of a life
it's a mean old world, when you're kicked to the gutter
and the firewater gotcha talking in circles again
It's an empty bottle passing around
when your hopes and dreams have all burned down
And the firewater is the one thing to put out the flame
Take me home, take me home
Gather me up in your arms Lord have mercy divine
So take me home, take me home
Take me home, take me home
Cause it's a short life, it's a hell of a life,
it's a mean old world when your kicked to the gutter
and the firewater is the one thing to put out the flame
Yeah, the firewater is the one thing to put out the flame