If you can't find work, work finds you
You know daddy didn't raise no welfare fool
Said, ‘there's a lot worse things a boy could do
Than straddle an iron beam.'
So I build this bridge ‘til it's complete
And I'll take the steel toes off my feet
And give myself a one way seat on that train to hopkinsville

I'm going back to hopkinsville
I'm going back you know I will
Only 21 working days until
I'm with my love in hopkinsville

On my day off I pull the blinds
So the foreman won't see my taste for the wine
And I drink until the sun don't shine
And I sit and drink some more
I might call the boys and deal a hand
I may go to town to hear a country band
And lie about what we got planned
When we get off of that bridge

I'm going back to hopkinsville
I'm going back you know I will
Only 21 working days until
I'm with my love in hopkinsville

This welding hood is mighty dark
You can see the sun and the welding sparks
And it sounds good singing ole joe clark
Long as nobody else can hear
And it fits my head, fits my face
And it holds my welding gloves in place
Its been known to hide the trace of a lonely man crying

I'm going back to hopkinsville
I'm going back you know I will
Only 21 working days until
I'm with my love in hopkinsville (that's right)