Lord, I am a working man

And music is my trade

I'm travelin' with this five-piece band

I play the ace of spade

I have a wife and family

But they don't see much of me

God bless the absentee



Lord, I am a surgeon

And music is my knife

It cuts away my sorrow

It purifies my life

But if I could release my heart

And veins and artery

I'd say God bless the absentee



I miss my woman so

I miss my bed

I miss those soft places

I used to lay my head



My son don't need me yet

His bones are soft

He flies a silver airplane

He wears a golden cross

God bless the absentee



Lord, this country's changed so fast

The future is the present

The present's in the past

The highways are in litigation

The airports disagree

God bless the absentee

God bless the absentee