[Verse 1]
Now the Houston Kid has got a new pair of jeans
But he’s got no soap, he got no washing machine
And the Houston Kid, he’s feeling tight and he’s mean
And he’s trying to figure out how his pants got clean

[Chorus]
Well, he’s doing his wash in a tub full of whiskey
Hanging his threads on a very thin line
Trying to tell the man in charge of the dryers
What a great job he’s doing faking sunshine

[Verse 2]
Now the Houston Kid, he seems hard-pressed
'Cause he hit the world naked, now he’s headed back dressed
As the Houston Kid, no more and no less
If your dice fit your pocket, then your pants pass the test

[Chorus]
He’s doing his wash in a tub full of whiskey
Hanging his threads on a very thin line
And trying to tell the man in charge of the dryers
What a great job he’s doing faking sunshine

[Banjo and Mandolin Solos]
[Verse 3]
Now some say the Houston Kid is bent
But if you've got to do your wash
Then you've got to pay some rent
So the Houston Kid, he just up and he went
And love could not buy back the dimes that he’d spent

[Chorus]
'Cause he’s doing his wash in a tub full of whiskey
Hanging his threads on a very thin line
And trying to tell the man in charge of the dryers
What a great job he’s doing faking sunshine