Big Old Shoulders

[Verse 1]

This is for the midnight voice of a 911 dial-up

The mouth to mouth, keep 'em alive

Or those who dig through the rubble, for one more survivor

For the Kentucky farmer with tobacco stains

Long-haul daddy leaving Texas for Maine

The Louisiana rancher praying for rain

[Chorus]

Oh you carry the weight of the world

You carry the weight of the world

You carry the weight of the world

On your big old shoulders

[Verse 2]

For the boys in blue call to a domestic disturbance

The warrior wounded by rebel insurgence

For mothers' raw hands in dishwasher detergent

For the three-alarm firemen called at 4 AM

Shadetree mechanic gettin' her running again

The truck stop waitress reading Gone with the Wind, oh-oh

[Chorus]

Oh you carry the weight of the world

You carry the weight of the world

You carry the weight of the world

On your big old shoulders

[Verse 3]

For the underpaid, overworked high school teacher

Old man with the garbage can cleaning up the bleacher

The marrying-burrying burned out preacher

For the children's hospital ninth floor nurses

The angels that dress up as hospice workers

The healers of wounds, breakers of curses

[Bridge]

Where it all falls apart you're always strong

Just knowing you're there keeps me holding on

The least I can do is sing you a song

[Chorus]

'Cause you carry the weight of the world

(Carry the weight of the world)

You carry the weight of the world

(Carry the weight of the world)

You carry the weight of the world

(Carry the weight of the world)

On your big old shoulders, oh now

You carry the weight of the world

You carry the weight of the world

You carry the weight of the world

On your big old shoulders, I know

[Outro]

On your big old shoulders, ah

Yeah, oh I know

You carry the world

You carry the world

Oh I know you got

You got big old shoulders