[Verse 1]
For the last two years the rent keeps getting higher
And the neighbors all have cars we can't afford
I'm working two jobs now and, brother, I stay tired
But we could always stand to make a little more

[Verse 2]
Way it goes, we might not be here by December
We both know there's gonna have to be a break
Priced my blood to try and turn back on our power
Oh, Lord, there's got to be a better way

[Chorus]
We've been selling off our books and records
Instruments our grandparеnts played
We've been sеlling off our books and records
But we're gonna buy them back someday

[Verse 3]
These past few winters have been harder than expected
Unknown numbers call us all hours of the day
We've both been learning how to cook our suppers cheaper
Stretch it out until we get paid

[Verse 4]
The way it goes, I doubt we ever will retire
But the cast iron will be seasoned well by then
And if we're lucky we'll have moments by the fire
Put a record on and read a book again
[Chorus]
We've been selling off our books and records
Instruments our grandparents played
We've been selling off our books and records
But we're gonna buy them back someday

[Post-Chorus]
We're gonna buy them back someday

[Bridge]
And down at Tommy's Pawn, there's an unheard song
Buried in my grandpa's guitar
By a box of antique photos I got
When granny Marie passed on
We learned hard to take it on the chin
Get our bills caught up in time just to fall behind again

[Chorus]
We've been selling off our books and records
Instruments our grandparents played
We've been selling off our books and records
But we're gonna buy them back someday

[Post-Chorus]
We're gonna buy them back someday