G G C G C G D G

[Verse 1]
          G
I keep my fist raised up
     C
Full-time against the world
G
Sometimes for the family
    D
And sometimes for the girl
            G
Yeah, you'd think I'd learn my lesson
      C
I'm a man who's been around
G
But I could never keep
     D
That middle finger down

     G
Well I'm still hanging on
      C
And I think that God takes care of fools
     G                               D
I've broke a lot of hearts, and I've broke a lot of rules
    G                         C
Yet somehow I survived with a bit of dummy luck
    G                     D
But I can never keep that finger from sticking up

[Chorus]
G                   C
I could never keep, I could never keep
G                               D
I could never keep my life from burning to the ground
      G
You'd think I'd learn my lesson
C
I'm a man who's been around
    G                       D
But I could never keep that middle finger down

[Instrumental]
G C G D

[Verse 2]
       G
I'm a grudge-holding jerk
            C
Who starts feuds with a wink
   G
A sharp-tongued S.O.B
     D
Who speaks before he thinks
      G
I've learned from my losses
      C
And I know when I'm wrong
       G
Still, my life's sadder
        D
Than an old country song


[Chorus]
G                   C
I could never keep, I could never keep
G                               D
I could never keep my life from burning to the ground
      G
You'd think I'd learn my lesson
C
I'm a man who's been around
    G                       D
But I could never keep that middle finger down

[Instrumental]
G C G D
G C G D

[Verse 3]
          G
So if you looked at my life
       C
If you took a little peek
                 G
You'd say, “Good Lord, let it go, man
     D
Just turn the other cheek”
                    G
I don't know how to let it go
             C
I just don't know how to behave
      G
I was born with this affliction
         D
And I'll take it to the grave

[Chorus]
G                   C
I could never keep, I could never keep
G                               D
I could never keep my life from burning to the ground
      G
You'd think I'd learn my lesson
C
I'm a man who's been around
    G                       D
But I could never keep that middle finger down

G                   C
I could never keep, I could never keep
G                               D
I could never keep my life from burning to the ground
      G
You'd think I'd learn my lesson
C
I'm a man who's been around
    G                       D
But I could never keep that middle finger down