Weakness
Ian Munsick Lyrics


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I've lived the life of a hired hand
I've lived the life of a working man
I've lived the life of a gypsy too
And I have lived the life of a drunken fool

I've got a weakness for them ole swayback horses
Pretty girls and fine guitars
Antique cars and cowboy bars

Well these hands they build mansions
And they build cow stanchions
I've rode 'em a mile, a few
And I have laid them down on a bale or two

I've got a weakness for them ole swayback horses
Pretty girls and fine guitars
Antique cars and cowboy bars

These hand ride the rough stock
Punch post holes through hard rock
No they won't never be cruel to you
There's certain things they just won't do
These hands ride the cell block
Peel coyotes and tie pack knots
They'll pick an ole guitar too
And that ain't all they'll do

I've got a weakness for them ole swayback horses
Pretty girls and fine guitars
Antique cars and cowboy bars

Well it's a long way from over
I see a field of four leaf clovers
Money's always come hard for me
But that won't always be

I've got a weakness for them ole swayback horses
Pretty girls and fine guitars
Antique cars and cowboy bars
Pretty girls and fine guitars




Antique cars and cowboy bars
Yeah

Overall Meaning

In "Weakness," Ian Munsick talks about his past experiences as a working man, a gypsy, and a drunkard. He mentions how his hands have built mansions and cow stanchions, but they have also ridden horses, punched post holes, and played the guitar. Even though he has faced many challenges in life, Munsick has a weakness for certain things that bring him joy, such as swayback horses, pretty girls, fine guitars, antique cars, and cowboy bars. The song ends with a hopeful tone, implying that Munsick is not done yet and sees a field of four-leaf clovers in his future.


Line by Line Meaning

I've lived the life of a hired hand
I have experienced working for others, serving them, and following their orders.


I've lived the life of a working man
I have gone through the normal routines of manual labor, and working hard to make a living.


I've lived the life of a gypsy too
I have traveled and wandered to places far and near, and experienced life on the road.


And I have lived the life of a drunken fool
I have been in situations where I drank too much, making poor decisions, and facing the consequences of my actions.


I've got a weakness for them ole swayback horses
I have a fondness and attraction to old and worn-out horses that have served their life purpose, despite their physical decline.


Pretty girls and fine guitars
I find women who are attractive in looks and personality, and guitars that are of high quality, to be a weakness and a source of pleasure.


Antique cars and cowboy bars
I derive joy and satisfaction from vintage cars that have stood the test of time, and bars that reflect the traditional cowboy way of life.


Well these hands they build mansions
My hands have the ability to construct grand and impressive homes for people to live in.


And they build cow stanchions
My hands have also fashioned cattle pens where animals can be held or fed.


I've rode 'em a mile, a few
I have ridden horses for a distance, enjoying being close to the animal and the freedom of the experience.


And I have laid them down on a bale or two
I have rested my body and taken breaks while doing manual labor on farms or ranches.


These hand ride the rough stock
My hands are able to control and grip tightly to wild horses or bulls during rodeo events.


Punch post holes through hard rock
My hands are capable of drilling holes into tough surfaces like rocks, to construct fences or secure poles.


No they won't never be cruel to you
I will not use my skills and strength to hurt or harm any living creature.


There's certain things they just won't do
There are things that I will refuse to do, even if it means losing money or opportunities.


These hands ride the cell block
My hands have been put into handcuffs and I have been incarcerated in prison cells at some point in my life.


Peel coyotes and tie pack knots
I have been able to skin coyotes and tie specific kind of knots with rope or other materials.


They'll pick an ole guitar too
I am skilled at playing old-fashioned guitars, enjoying their sound and timbre.


And that ain't all they'll do
My hands don't have just one skill or ability, but rather a multitude of them that might surprise people.


Well it's a long way from over
My journey through life thus far has been long and arduous, and there is still much left to experience and endure.


I see a field of four leaf clovers
Despite my challenges, I am optimistic and see the possibility of achieving good luck and prosperity in my future.


Money's always come hard for me
Acquiring wealth and financial stability has always been a struggle for me, and requires a lot of hard work and determination.


But that won't always be
Although money has been a constant challenge for me, I am hopeful that I will eventually experience greater wealth and comfort in my life.


Yeah
An affirmation or a statement of agreement or appreciation for the things mentioned in the song.




Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Jocelyn (Jo) Burke


on Long Haul

As a Jo myself this one tugs at my heart strings. My boyfriend sent it to me probably over a year ago now and you bet we will be dancing to this at our wedding someday. And Ian will be getting an invite of course

Brooke


on Long Haul

I am getting married next year My fiance and myself love this song and I will walk down the isle to it. Have been trying to locate a instrumental to it to play before this one tho is so hard nothing sounds as perfect

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