now council bluffs is a rough town
a lot rougher than me old man
he got caught up on its stick pin
but never was the same again
he cut his tooth on a golden glove
but he never knew where to hit
flat foot left him limping
but he never knew when to quit

now I’m sweeping the glass up
come from where I hid night after night
but there's no sweeping the past up
what’s done is did
its the same old fight
‘cause Council Bluffs is a rough old town

slap some shine on them trophies
take a rag upon the shelf
old man’s eyes they’re squinting
if only he could see hisself
not that life wouldn't hit him hard
less'n you could see the bruise
he just wasn't no born fighter
unless he had a thing to lose

now I search for the old man
shout out a name here and there
to where he leans on the trash can
what’s done is did
so say your prayers
‘cause Council Bluffs is a rough old town

he told me that its hard to see out of black eyes
and it’s a bitch to breathe when your bones is broke
but you just keep on punching walls
cause its all you can do
to keep moving
to keep moving

they don’t want no more fighters
men of teeth toe and fist
the spoils go to the gentler man
gone are the days of the pugilist
he ran his race and he ran it square
and each night before I put him down
he’d have a drink and we'd sit there
and never once did he make a sound

now I’m sweeping the glass up
come from where I hid
night after night
but there's no sweeping the past up
what’s done is did
and its the same old fight
‘cause Council Bluffs is a rough old town