From the recordings C.R. 434 and This Life of Mine
This song is the songwriter's life story. The specifics may be different from your story but the gist of it is "Everyman's" story. Although a blues song, it is very much an "Oh well" kind of message that tells the listener to just move on.
Lyrics
Born and raised in New York City, was gonna stay there or so I believed.
Then I came on Down to Texas, and now I won’t never leave.
Well I’ve been a lot of places, and I’ve done a lot of things,
Some bring back good mem’ries and many truly sting.
I’ve smoked a lot a dope and I drunk a lot a Jack,
Been a fool more ‘an once or twice, but I keep comin’ back.
But it ain’t nothin’, oh no it ain’t nothin’, just this life of mine.
Spent some time in southeast asia, same as many of y’all I bet.
Did some things I ain’t too proud of, some things that I regret.
I went to war a boy, and I came back a man,
But the comin’ back reception was more than I could stand.
But it ain’t nothin’, oh no it ain’t nothin’, just this life of mine.
Stomped around in the oil patch, lookin’ for Black Gold,
Thought the money would come easy, jumped right in bein’ bold.
But the oil biz was in trouble, didn’t know it at the time,
Then the bank took all my money, and left me without a dime.
But it ain’t nothin’, oh no it ain’t nothin’, just this life of mine.
Tried my hand at raisin’ cattle, bought myself a few head,
Clearin’ land buildin’ fences, developin’ my spread.
But just about the time I had it all figured out,
I lost my herd to a south Texas drought.
But it ain’t nothin’, oh no it ain’t nothin’, just this life of mine.
I take one step forward, and three steps back
And thinkin’ why’s this life so hard?
I could complain about all my pain,
But it ain’t nothin’, oh no it ain’t nothin’, just this life of mine.
Now of all the things I’ve done and all the places that I’ve been,
I learned you can’t hide from your problems in a bottle of Jim.
So I packed up my guitar and my feet hit the road,
Touchin’ lives with my lyrics, playin’ music from my soul,
But it ain’t nothin’, no it ain’t nothin’, just this life of mine.
It ain’t nothin’, oh no it ain’t nothin’, just this life of mine.