I make my living feeling rotten   But I feel good when I play blues   Man, I make my living feeling rotten   But I feel good when I play blues   In this world of contradictions   What can a poor boy do?      Some folks say you can't sing blues   When you're feeling good   I guess when things are lousy   I ought to knock on wood      I make my living feeling rotten   But I feel good when I play blues   In this world of contradictions   Man, what can a poor boy do?      I guess the worst things get   The better they must be   This mixed up way of thinking   Man, is killing me      I make my living feeling rotten   But I feel good when I play blues, yes, I do   In this world of contradictions   What can a poor boy do? Yeah, what can I do? Oh      Well, if I feel a little bit better   I'll probably go broke   It' enough to give a man the blues   And man, that ain't no joke      I make my living feeling rotten   I feel good when I play blues   Well, in this world of contradictions   What can a poor boy do?