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

[Outro]
 G               D             G  
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail