Tryin' to make a livin' it's harder every day   By the time I see a dollar just another bill to pay   I got a wife and family and the bills are pilin' high   These days it ain't easy for a working man to get by      I can't help but wonder what a man suppose to do   I got those hard breaking escalatin' high inflation blues   [ steel ]   By the time I get the payday the money's already gone   Someone's eatin' chicken all I git is the bones   My wife needs a new coat the kids need clothes to school   We're all out of grocery's and it's Tuesday afternoon       Well it could drive a man to drinkin' but I can't afford the booze   I got those hard breaking escalatin' high inflation blues   [ fiddle ]   The cost of livin' keeps goin' up the taxes ain't goin' down   I'm just treadin' water to tryin' not to drown   Mr Courter I know you're up there and I should could use a hen   So won't you please have mercy on a common working man      I just keep on tryin' doin' all that I can do   I got those hard breaking escalatin' high inflation blues (yodel)