It's so mean
It's crueler than your dreams
And it's worse than it seems
Add it up
Stick it in your cup
You're sure to get enough

It runneth over now
You can't complain no more
Your bones are cracking now
You'd better knuckle down

Life's so cheap
It's cheaper than it looks
You can't learn that from books
Stay in the house
Stay clear of what you fear
And you're old beyond your years

It runneth over now
You can't complain no more
Your bones are cracking now
You'd better knuckle down

You're leaving your long shadows
Leaning into space
And your hardscrabble life
Is written all over your face

Counterfeit
The bankroll that was his
Fist of change that was yours
A life so cheap
It was cheaper than it looked
You can learn that from books

It runneth over now
You can't complain no more
Your bones are cracking now
You'd better knuckle down

They'll leave you with a prayer book
And a pocket full of grace
And your hardscrabbled life
Is written all over your face

Life's so cheap Life's so cheap It's so mean
It's crueler than your dreams
And it's worse than it seems
It's so mean
It's so mean
Whisper in my ear
Whisper in my ear
Whisper in the night
Whisper all the time
Life's so cheap