The hands of a workin' man built this town Cleared this timber and plowed this ground Raised those cattle in the sun and snow Dammed that river and dug that coal It's a debt we owe to the hands of a workin' man Now my granddad had 'em and my daddy does too Back home there ain't much else to do You put food on the table and you fill up the tank Pay what you owe to the boys at the bank Live another day thanks to the hands of a workin' man Workin' hard from the sun up to the sun down They can build it tall, they can tear it on down They got the know–how if you've got the money Hit you hard as a hammer if you pick a fight But they'd rather hold a pretty girl tight tonight They're the rough and dirty, strong and sturdy sponsored links Hands of a workin' man Now the hands of a workin' man look kind of funny Stickin' outta white shirt sleeves on Sunday They're more at home holdin' a rod and reel
Nine pound hammer or a steering wheel There's leather and steel in the hands of a workin' man Workin' hard from the sun up to the sun down They can build it tall, they can tear it on down They got the know–how if you've got the money Hit you hard as a hammer if you pick a fight But they'd rather hold a pretty girl tight tonight They're the rough and dirty, strong and sturdy Hands of a working man Rough and hard, scuffed and scarred From the front lines to the old freight yards We have what we have Cause they are the way they are Workin' hard from the sun up to the sun down They can build it tall, they can tear it on down They got the know–how if you've got the money Hit you hard as a hammer if you pick a fight But they'd rather hold a pretty girl tight tonight They're the rough and dirty, strong and sturdy Hands of a workin' man