summer wages

never hit seventeen when you play against the dealer

you know that the odds won't ride with you

and never leave your woman alone with your friends around to steal her

she'll be gambled and gone like summer wages

and we'll keep rolling on till we get to vancouver

and the woman that i love

she's living there

it's been six long months and more since i've seen her

maybe she's gambled and gone like summer wages

in all the beer parlors all down along main street

the dreams of the seasons get all spilled out on the floor

all the big stands of timber just waiting for falling

and the hookers standing watchfully

waiting by the door

so i'll work on the towboats with my slippery city shoes

lord! i swore i would never that do again

through the the gray fog-bound straits where the cedars stand watching

i'll be far off and gone like summer wages

never hit seventeen when you play against the dealer

you know that the odds won't ride with you

and never leave your woman alone with your friends around to steal her

she'll be gambled and gone like summer wages

and the years are gambled and lost like summer wages