My alarm goes off early, can't afford to be late
If I don't get a move on then 
I won't get paid
So I throw back those covers and get my butt up outta bed
It's still dark when 
I'm leavin' so 
I let my lady sleep
I know her and them babies are a countin' on me
To put food on the table, keep this roof over our head
Yeah, and that's why 
I get crackin' in the mornin'
Fight all that traffic out on 
I-40Punch a clock at a job for a boss that 
I don't like
Yeah, that's why 
I keep swinging that hammer
Fight for each step that 
I take on that ladder
Break my back for a slice of that 
American pie
Yeah, that's why
Well, I wear a hard hat, steel toed boots and leather gloves
And my office is the front seat of a four door truck
Decorated with crayon drawn pictures all taped to the dash
And our Junior 
Pro football starts here in 
JulyThere'll be shoulder pads, jerseys and new cleats to buy
My wife's had her eye on some earrings
That I'd sure like her to have, yeah, 
I wouldYeah, and that's why 
I get crackin' in the mornin'
Fight all that traffic out on 
I-40Punch a clock at a job for a boss that 
I don't like
Yeah, that's why 
I keep swinging that hammer
Fight for each step that 
I take on that ladder
Break my back for a slice of that 
American pie
Yeah, that's why
They want cell phones, laptops, ballet shoes and dresses
X-box, iPods, and rock 'n' roll drum lessons
But that's why 
I get crackin' in the mornin'
Fight all that traffic out on 
I-40Punch a clock at a job for a boss that 
I don't like
Yeah, that's why 
I keep swinging this hammer
Fight for each step that 
I take on this ladder
Break my back for a slice of that 
American pie
Yeah, that's why(That's why)
Yeah, that's why