Words & Music: Ian McLeish
 

1.
He spent five years in a rock'n' roll band
Paid his dues in bars and dives all over the land
Living off of seconals and coffee to go
He hasn't got a thing to show...

2.
He met a lot of ladies and he made quite a few
A redhead almost pinned him down in Kalamazoo
He promised her he'd bring a ring the next time he came
He couldn't quite remember her name.

Chorus
A second rate rock'n'roller's all he can be
He likes to play for money, half the time it's for free
He knows tomorrow's coming bringing with it a break
He's had about all he can take.

3.
He thought he had it made once in Medicine hat
A fill-in with a big-name band, he jumped at the chance
A standing ovation at the Holiday Inn
Then back out on the road again.

4.
He almost had a contract for an album a year
But the songs that he had written went and disappeared
His manager got crazy and he took off for Spain
His Martin got crushed by a train...

Chorus (repeat)
 

Copyright: 1973 Ian Mcleish
Published: 1974  McMusic Ltd. CAPAC
Renewed: 1994  Mousehole Music SOCAN