Ben Rector
The Men That Drive Me Places
[Verse 1]
Howard drives a minivan to the cruise ships from Fort Lauderdale
And it's been that way since 1994
Does his business on a flip phone with the most obnoxious ringtone
I didn't ask, but I can tell he's from New York
He spoke proudly of his daughter and that this fall she'd be in college
And that he always wished he'd gotten his degree
You can tell he came from nothing, built a future out of hustling
And somehow I'm the one you people pay to see

[Chorus]
Oh, isn't that just the way it goes?
You're dealt a good hand and you get celebrated
Oh, how am I the only one who knows
I'm half the man of the men who drive me places?

[Verse 2]
Danny showed up early, fifteen minutes till 5:30
Making sure that I'd be on my morning flight
He said he'd love to fix computers, but that he can't until he's fluent
So he spends his driving money taking class at night
He wore a neatly ironed dress shirt, and he helps his kids with homework
Deep inside I couldn't help but ask myself
Why that night I'm up on stage, everybody knows my name
While Danny's early picking up somebody else?
[Chorus]
Oh, isn't that just the way it goes?
You're dealt a good hand and you get celebrated
Oh, how am I the only one who knows
I'm half the man of the men that drive me places?

[Bridge]
Now everything's not given, I work hard to make a living
I'll give credit where I think the credit's due
Maybe you got dealt a good hand
Maybe you play it the best that you can
But I don't know how far you'd walk without those cards
In Howard or Danny's working shoes

[Chorus]
But that's just the way it goes
You're dealt a good hand and you get celebrated
Oh, how am I the only one who knows
I'm half the man of the men that drive me places?