I heard people say it's a long hard climb to the top
They talk about working, struggling, and never being able to stop
About the high-class blues, they'll all tell you they've got 'em
But I'm here to say it's a long hard climb to the bottom
On your first step down, you'll meet your friend the bottle
He'll start you off easy and then he'll open the throttle
You'll reach the point where you'll wonder why you ever sought him
But he's now your friend and he'll be there when you reach the bottom
Leaves are green and the sky is blue how'd this thing ever happen to you
You think about your misery and you wallow in despair
You reach for a friend and a friend is there, you've seen him before so you let him in
He's that great big bottle of gin
On your next step down you'll tell yourself it's nothing
When she says she's going to leave you, you tell yourself she's bluffing
You've had your spring, the summer is through and it's starting to feel like autumn
You just took your next step on your long hard climb to the bottom
By the time you reach step four, boy, you can't deny it
Cause everything they offer you, you're going to try it
Just when you think your pain is forgotten
You just took your last step on your long hard climb to the bottom