nickels and dimes

lyrics and music by Nathan Davis

Staring down the barrel of a gun
Life holds in his hand;
He's got an itchy finger, a wicked temper, and he always gets his man.
He's coming to take another year from me;
Says I owe myself an apology—
But I've said "I'm sorry" too many times,
And I've paid the price with nickels and dimes.

I've been staring down the barrel of a gun
Fate holds in his hand;
He's got a slow finger, a terrible bringer of war to a battered man.
He's coming to take another year from me;
Says I owe my brother an apology—
But I said "I'm sorry" too many times,
And I paid the price with nickels and dimes.

I've been eternally alone, I've been afraid of letting go
Yesterday.
Maybe it's the aching in my heart that drives the soul of my guitar;
It's never very far away.

I've been staring down the barrel of a gun
Love holds in her hands;
But she won't pull the trigger 'cause my walls have gotten thicker,
And I've become a better man.
Says she'll give another year to me;
Says I owe that woman an apology—
But I've said "I'm sorry" too many times
And I've paid the price with nickels and dimes,
Yeah, I've paid the price with my nickels and dimes.

I got no alibis, my excuses are over.
Nothing to hide behind, I'm gettin' sober.
If I could dream of a reason to leave me,
There would be none like the reasons you gave me.