[Verse 1]
Barterers and their wives
Barterers and their wives
Trading, fading, taking, breaking
Barter away their lives

[Verse 2]
Crowding the city gates
Shunning the master's fate
Low decisions they envision
Cleaning the pauper's plates

[Chorus]
In the marketplace changing commonplace friends
Come to banter on odds to meet their own ends

[Verse 3]
Barterers hold their own
Pinching on what they loan
After seeding, people pleading
Spending the heat alone

[Chorus]
Who will sacrifice pride for being nice game?
He's in season, and that's the reason he came
[Verse 4]
Barterers and their trade
Lately fall back to fade
Every evening, packing, leaving
Counting on what they've made

[Chorus]
Wifely cooking will keep them looking their best
As they smile and set out beguiling with jest

[Verse 1]
Barterers and their wives
Barterers and their wives
Trading, fading, taking, breaking
Barter away their lives