Down where the gravel road bends through the pines
Lives a hard-built man ’bout six-foot-nine
Hands like steel, back like a tree
Lord help the fool who crosses he
Sun comes up, he’s already gone
Stackin’ hay since the crack of dawn
Two hundred bales like they’re nothin’ to throw
He’s the toughest S.O.B. I know
He don’t brag, he don’t show
But everybody round here knows
He’s one tough S.O.B., born in these hills
Raised on sweat and stubborn will
Chops that wood till the sun goes down
Drinks that bar till the whiskey’s gone
You might talk big but you best believe
Ain’t a man alive gonna make him leave
When the rooster crows he’s back on his feet
That’s one tough S.O.B.
Old axe handle worn down smooth
From a thousand cords he’s split clean through
Oak and hickory hit the ground
Echo ringin’ all through town
Friday night at the Rusty Nail
Bartender sighs, says Here we go, hell
Jar goes ’round and before you know
He done drank the place dry, that S.O.B.
Never seen him stagger or slow
Just tips his hat and down the road
He’s one tough S.O.B., born in these hills
Raised on sweat and stubborn will
Chops that wood till the sun goes down
Drinks that bar till the whiskey’s gone
You might talk big but you best believe
Ain’t a man alive gonna make him leave
When the rooster crows he’s back on his feet
That’s one tough S.O.B.
He ain’t mean, he ain’t loud
But he’ll drop a fool talkin’ proud
Mountain hard, Appalachian free
Best mind your words ’round an S.O.B.
He’s one tough S.O.B., born in these hills
Raised on sweat and stubborn will
Throws that hay like the wind blows free
Splits them logs like the tall pine trees
Drinks all night, laughs with the band
Shakes your soul with a working man’s hand
And when the sunrise hits them trees
That one tough S.O.B.’s back at it again
“One Tough S.O.B.” is track number 9 on the Thumper Barrel album, Bush Bond.
Track: One Tough S.O.B.
Album: Bush Bond
ISRC: QZNWX2632107
ASCAP: 935049085