Now I'm just a bartender, and I don't like my work, but I don't mind the money at all.

I see lots of sad faces and lots of bad cases of folks with their backs to the wall.

But I need four walls around me to hold my life, to keep me from going astray,

and a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight to keep me from slipping away.

I can light up your smokes, I can laugh at your jokes,

I can watch you fall down on your knees.

I can close down this bar, I can gas up my car, I can pack up and mail in my key.

But I need four walls around me to hold my life, to keep me from going astray,

and a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight to keep me from slipping away.

Now, the smoke fills the air in this honky-tonk bar

and I'm thinking 'bout where I'd rather be.

But I burned all my bridges, I sank all my ships and I'm stranded at the edge of the sea.

But I need four walls around me to hold my life, to keep me from going astray,

and a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight to keep me from slipping away.