Tried busking down in frisco, tried dancin' in la   I played the blues in chicago, boy I ran home in santa fe   I played guitar for many men, signed a deal or two   And all I ever got from them is the sho-biz blues   I got hot chicks down in texas, no work in alabam'   Snowed in out on belibor you were always in a jam   Worked carnivals down in georgia, night clubs attitude   And all I ever got from them is the sho-biz blues   Well the manager's got no money, the bookers had no jobs   The record man he fell asleep, he says I look like a slob   The bus breaks down and the motel's bad you're always in a stew   You can't quit you're too far gone, you got the sho-biz blues   I tried to love the ladies everywhere I went   When I got down and out they wouldn't ever pay my rent   If you crave your neighbour lights, the spotlight's right on you   When it's time to get the catch with the sho-biz blues   Now you can't sleep till two o'clock, you ain't no millionaire   This entertaining lifestyle just seems to go nowhere   You write a song it seems ok, they say it's nothin' new   It don't take long to find you've got the sho-biz blues