Seven years of hard luck, comin' down on me
From the Florida border, yes, up to Nashville, Tennessee
I worked in every joint you can name, mister, every honky tonk
Along come Mr. Yankee Slicker, sayin' "Maybe you're what I want"
Want you to sign your contract
Gonna give you lots of money
Oh, nine thousand dollars, that's all we could win
But we smiled at the Yankee slicker with a big ol' Southern grin
They're gonna take me out to California, gonna make me a superstar
Just pay me all of my money, mister, maybe you won't get a scar
Want you to sign your contract
Gonna give you lots of money
Oh, suckers took my money since I was seventeen
If it ain't no pencil pusher, then it got to be a honky tonk queen
But I'll sign my contract, baby, and I want you people to know
That every penny that I make, I'm gonna see where my money goes
Want you to sign your contract
Gonna give you lots of money