Lyrics

VERSE 1
he's a-workin six 10s at the Exxon plant
he's got half a mind to quit em but he knows that he can't
he's got three little kids ages 4 to 9
and a 30-year mortgage that's a month behind

VERSE 2
his second wife left him but the new one's fine
she works the 7-11 making overtime
his F150's clocked 200K
the bank just came and hauled his boat away

CH0RUS
he's livin by the numbers, by the book
his boss won't give him a second look
he's countin his pennies, walkin the line
makin his way one day at a time

VERSE 3
he drives 45 miles to his job one way
he's got a mountain of troubles and a desert of pay
his little girl's asking for a baseball glove
she knows she'll get it, that's the price of love

BRIDGE
how many times do they think he'll just walk away
just shake his head and leave with nothin to say
don't they know there's only so much that he'll take
there's a judgment coming, he's just countin the days

ALT-CHORUS:
he's livin by the numbers, by hook and by crook
with all he's seen he could write a book
the odds are against him but he don't mind
he's just makin his way one day at a time

REPEAT CHORUS

CODA
he's a workin six 10s at the exxon plant