The only way to roll is off the books
Never really up to any good
I've been a shoeless cobbler for as long as I remember
And I'm always having trouble staying put

Sorry, I'm no longer taking checks
Pay me bills no larger than a ten
The less you own, the more you get to hitch a ride and leave
The longer that you stay, you're just a fading mystery
And the more they buy, the more you'll sell the junk you'll never need
So the only way to roll is off the books

You see me on the corner in the rain
Just waiting for the vans to hit the brakes
You say
Apprentice is hung over, can you haul a stack of lumber?
Can you fill the holes before a coat of paint
I say, I stand knee-deep in shit
I wish my well upon your lazy kids
They say
If only he would stay in one place for more than days
And earn a wage instead of running 'round and getting paid
But off the books is easier anyway

The only way to roll is off the books
Can't find you if they don't know where to look
So I'll say it off the record that I leave without a trace
Come to think of it, you never even knew my last name
My history is written on the walls under the paint
'Cause the only way to roll is off the books

There's an army hiding underneath the table
In solidarity I march along
You wanna stand around and watch the kettle
Someone else will gladly take you to your crummy job
You wanna stand around and watch the kettle
Someone else will gladly take you to your crummy job
So the only way to roll is off the books