The Hungry Years

[Verse 1]
Had a ranch home out by the water tower
Had a station wagon cardboard childhood then
Gotta turn the AC to the rafters, boy
Gotta turn the heater down to the floor
We never had real nice things then, yeah
Hand me down clothes and big jar peanut butter
She grew up in a war zone then
With her army base stew and her
Rations and tins yeah

[Verse 2]
You got your Christmas shopping at the discount store
And imagination birthday holiday
You gotta study every day, maybe be a doctor
Gotta bring home the bacon to your wife
We never got Air Jordans back then, yeah
Home made fast food, burgers on white bread
She says it's better than the real thing, yeah
But i know it's not the real thing, she knows I know

[Chorus 1]
You gotta save every penny and dime
You gotta save every minute and hour
You gotta scream like a woman on a
Verge of a nervous breakdown!

You gotta save every dollar and ten
You gotta save every hour and day
You gotta shout like a god-damned revolutionary!

[Verse 3]
Hey, put on a sweater in February, and
Take it all of in the summer
Frozen can orange juice, powder lemonade and
Margarine tastes like butter
We never had a real nice car then yeah
Box car Lumina, Datsun in the old days
She says it's better than the real thing, boy
But i know it's not the real thing, I know, she knows

[Chorus 2]
You gotta save every penny and dime
You gotta save every minute and hour
You gotta run like he's gonna beat the
Shit right outta you!

You gotta save every dollar and ten
You gotta save every hour and day
You gotta scream like a god-damned revolutionary!

[Verse 4]
He's got a budget whiskey and a bulk supplier, got a
Houndstooth suit at the factory store
Got the display model at the super-mart. Got the
Bruised-box discount vegetables
She's got a coupon book for the end of ties
Got a three kids yelling in the back seat now
She says it's better than the real thing, boy
But i know it's not the real thing, she knows, I know

[Chorus 3]
You gotta save every penny and dime
You gotta save every minute and hour
You gotta work for the money like your
Boss is a mercenary!

You gotta save every dollar and ten
You gotta save every hour and day
You gotta yell like a god-damned revolutionary!