(INTRO) 
G, C, G 

(VERSE 1) 
 G                                        C                      G 
My boss man said you better get to work before i have to let you go 
                                                 A                        D 
He just walks around and he pays no mind to the sweat dripping off of my nose 
          G                                    C 
But after 10 long years of him dogging me out there's one thing i learned well 
 G               D             G 
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail 

(VERSE 2?) 
 G                                  C                     G 
My girlfriend she went out on me a hundred and fifty one times 
                                                     A               D 
At least she was honest enough to admit it when she wasn't too busy lying 
       G                              C 
But i came to a realization the last time she kicked my tail 
 G               D             G     C, G, D, G 
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail 

(CHORUS) 
 D                                            G 
If you've ever been on the receiving end then you know what it's like 
   C                             G           D 
A losing situation has been the story of my life 
    G                                      C 
But i ain't gonna let it beat me down and someday i'll prevail 
 G               D             G    C, G, D, G 
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail 

(VERSE 3) 
 G                                                C                     G 
I climbed in the ring with Roberto Duran and the punches began to rain down 
                                               A                   D 
He hit me with a dozen hard upper cuts and my corner threw in the towel 
 G                                             C 
I asked him why he had to knock me out and he summed it up real well 
         G               D             G     C 
He said i'd rather be a hammer than a nail 

(END) 
 G               D             G   
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail