Tried busking down in frisco, tried dancin' in la
i played the blues in chicago,
boy i ran home in santa fe
i played guitar for many men,
signed a deal or two
and all i ever got from them
is the sho-biz blues
i got hot chicks down in texas,
no work in alabam'
snowed in out on belibor
you were always in a jam
worked carnivals down in georgia,
night clubs attitude
and all i ever got from them
is the sho-biz blues
well the manager's got no money,
the bookers had no jobs
the record man he fell asleep,
he says i look like a slob
the bus breaks down and
the motel's bad
you're always in a stew
you can't quit
you're too far gone,
you got the sho-biz blues
i tried to love the ladies
everywhere i went
when i got down and out they
wouldn't ever pay my rent
if you crave your neighbour lights,
the spotlight's right on you
when it's time to get the catch
with the sho-biz blues
now you can't sleep till two o'clock,
you ain't no millionaire
this entertaining lifestyle
just seems to go nowhere
you write a song it seems ok,
they say it's nothin' new
it don't take long to find
you've got the sho-biz blues