Big Old Shoulders

[Verse 1]
This is for the midnight voice of a 911 dial-up
The mouth to mouth, keep 'em alive
Or those who dig through the rubble, for one more survivor
For the Kentucky farmer with tobacco stains
Long-haul daddy leaving Texas for Maine
The Louisiana rancher praying for rain

[Chorus]
Oh you carry the weight of the world
You carry the weight of the world
You carry the weight of the world
On your big old shoulders

[Verse 2]
For the boys in blue call to a domestic disturbance
The warrior wounded by rebel insurgence
For mothers' raw hands in dishwasher detergent
For the three-alarm firemen called at 4 AM
Shadetree mechanic gettin' her running again
The truck stop waitress reading Gone with the Wind, oh-oh

[Chorus]
Oh you carry the weight of the world
You carry the weight of the world
You carry the weight of the world
On your big old shoulders

[Verse 3]
For the underpaid, overworked high school teacher
Old man with the garbage can cleaning up the bleacher
The marrying-burrying burned out preacher
For the children's hospital ninth floor nurses
The angels that dress up as hospice workers
The healers of wounds, breakers of curses

[Bridge]
Where it all falls apart you're always strong
Just knowing you're there keeps me holding on
The least I can do is sing you a song

[Chorus]
'Cause you carry the weight of the world
(Carry the weight of the world)
You carry the weight of the world
(Carry the weight of the world)
You carry the weight of the world
(Carry the weight of the world)
On your big old shoulders, oh now

You carry the weight of the world
You carry the weight of the world
You carry the weight of the world
On your big old shoulders, I know

[Outro]
On your big old shoulders, ah
Yeah, oh I know
You carry the world
You carry the world
Oh I know you got
You got big old shoulders