Took a couple blows on Broadway
'Cause I heard that's what you do
Left blood and sweat and tears up and down 16th Avenue
Between the "Son, you just ain't got it"s
and the barely making rent"
I just smiled and took it on the chin

And I did my best, I went for broke
Breathed in every drop of neon-covered honky-tonk bar smoke
When this town did its worst
I just smiled and said, "Bring it"
Said, "If I go down, hell, at least I go down singin', oh"

Signed a couple sheets of paper and finally thought I'd won
Turns out I'd sign a couple more, and tell 'em I was done
But a phone call home to Momma
gets your back up off the ropes
Put my boots back on, called up the boys
And we all hit the road

And I did my best, I went for broke
Breathed in every drop of neon-covered honky-tonk bar smoke
When this town did its worst
I just smiled and said, "Bring it"
Said, "If I go down, hell, at least I go down singin', oh"
Go down singin', oh

Got asked the other day, by a kid with dreams to chase
Said, "What's it really take? "
I told him, "Make sure you can say

I did my best
I went for broke
Breathe in every drop of neon-covered honky-tonk bar smoke
When this town does its worst
make sure you smile and say, "Bring it"
And if you go down, at least you go down singin'"

If you go down, make damn sure
You go down singin', oh
Go down singin', oh