When I was born - oh forty years ago
We had no money and we had no place to go
The beer was weak and the gruel was thin
The guy on the church door wouldn’t even let us in

Tell yourself that you’re sadder than me
But you ain’t seen the things I’ve seen
I’m not you and you’re not me
You can sing a sad song
But I can sing a sad song too

The devil came knocking on my door
I said “please spare me ‘cos I’m so poor”
He said “I’ll trade you one soul for yours”
And you can’t really blame me for trading my soul for yours

Tell yourself that you’re sadder than me
But you ain’t seen the things I’ve seen
I’m not you and you’re not me
You can sing a sad song
But I can sing a sad song too

When I was low you left me there
Rope in my hand and standing on a chair
You washed your hands and I guess that’s fair
But don’t you turn around and tell me that you care
Tell yourself that you’re sadder than me
But you ain’t seen the things I’ve seen
I’m not you and you’re not me
You can sing a sad song
But I can sing a sad song too