v.1
Well if you wanna get in trouble, I can tell you how to do it
Just get a guitar, an' then you're into it
You play all day, an you play all night
An folks say you'll never learn how to play it right
They're always fussin' at ya, run you out to the garage
Won't let you practice

v.2
Well I bought a guitar bout a year ago
The man said I could learn it in a week or so
He gimme a little book an' a pick or two
Said "There ya are Sam, it's up to you!"
Cost me four ninety-five, all the money I had
Coulda bought forty-nine Batman comic books for that

v.3
Well for weeks an weeks I labored hard
Tryin to learn them few main chords
The book said it was easy as ABC
But man, my fingers is killin' me
They got sore on the ends, couldn't mash the strings down
Got disgusted, wanted to quit

v.4
I kept on playin with all my might
I could see ma's hair was turnin' white
Her face was lined with discontent
Said her patience was pretty near spent
Always nervous, ears ringin'
Just wanted to scream

v.5
My sister, she took it the worst of all
She got married the followin' fall
She said it was love, I got my doubts
I think that guitar chased her out
She was a game girl, tho, just couldn't take it
Limit to everything, y'know

v.6
My dad, he took it a different way
Said, "Son, you can turn your ma's hair grey"
"Drive your sister away from home"
"But you or me one's gotta start to roam, an I ain't leavin"
Said "you figure it out", and I did
Kinda fast like

v.7
Well next day I got my clothes all packed
An slung that guitar across my back
Caught myself a long freight train
Searched the world for my share of fame
I ain't found any, just hardship
Messin' around