you always drive around in your town
in a beat up rusting car
the load in begins, as you empty the bins
as you set up in the bar
you don't have a daytime job, and you know you'll be a star
and you think your life's a stupid mess,
that's because you still play the bars

play the bars ( play the bars)
play the bars oh yeah
play the bars ( play the bars)
play the bars oh yeah

you once had a cheerleader queen
when you played your local school
but now you got a groupie wife
and she says that you're so cool
you know the place is stale and rough
and the coffee's thick as tar
let me give you some good advice young men,
just work and don't play the bars

play the bars ( play the bars)
play the bars oh yeah
play the bars ( play the bars)
play the bars oh yeah

all the women around the world know a phony rock star
who plays the bars

well you can sleep on sofas, and sew your shoes,
but you live for the night
you gonna play at Cannington's pub
and everything gonna be right
we'll go out and strut our stuff,
and we'll all think we're stars,
then we get paid out thirty bucks,
that's it when you play the bars

play the bars ( play the bars)
play the bars oh yeah
play the bars ( play the bars)
play the bars oh yeah