[Verse 1]
My father was a man with a heart made out of gold
And a liver made out of tar
I remember in the back of the funeral home
When he gave me my first cigar
[Chorus]
He was business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
Business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
[Verse 2]
He would stumble in at nine each and every night
And open up the Westinghouse
And then he came into my room with buttons all askew
And microwaved Brussels sprouts
[Chorus]
He was business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
Business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
[Verse 3]
He paid my way to school even though I was a fool
And he bailed me out of jail
He was sittin’ at the bar when I picked up a guitar
That he sent me in the mail
[Chorus]
He was business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
Business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
[Verse 4]
I found him in the yard with a shovel at his side
Lying in a bed of lilies
My mother came along and quickly lost her grasp
On her pitcher of iced tea
[Chorus]
He was business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
Business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
[Verse 5]
I lifted up the straw of the styrofoam cup
To his lips of sand and stone
He lifted out the needle that was plunged into his arm
And he pulled me very close
[Bridge]
He says, I’m business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
Business in the front, party in the back
Party in the back, I said
[Outro]
But I’m only waiting
To be swallowed by the sea
Waiting to be swallowed by the sea