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 old car
I can pack up and mail in the 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 and I sank all ships now
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...