I woke up this morning aching with pain   Don't think I can work but I'll try   The car's in the shop, so I thumbed all the way   Oh, these days I barely get by      I walked home from work and it rained all the way   My wife left and didn't say why   She laid all her bills on the desk in the hall   Oh, these days I barely get by      Put my only two dollars on my favorite horse   He lost by a nose and I cried   Oh, my boss says, "Come winter, we'll all be laid off"   Oh, these days I barely get by      These days I barely get by   I want to give up, lay down and die   Worst of all was when she told me goodbye   Oh, these days I barely get by   Oh, these days, one barely gets by