No one on this side of town
Knows a good place for a boy to drown
They look at me so strange when I talk
I wish I was a tradesman
Learnin’ from some beat down old layman
On some hillside they ain’t named yet
Sleepin’ next to mountain fire smoke
And everyone lately’s scarin’ me
It’s all backdoor deals and therapy
The only callous I’ve grown is in my mind
I wish I was a tradesman
Playin’ with some tuned up tired string band
Somewhere out by the badlands
Way past closin’ time
So if you wanna trade, I’d say its a hard earned mile
Wanna sweat like hell, throw a hammer down
And know that the old feelin’ of a five o’clock smile
And know I didn’t take no easy way out
There’s somethin’ more that I need
Than accolades and sympathy
Fatiguin’ in the summer heat
While they smoke big cigars
So give me somethin’ I can’t fake
That rich boys can’t manipulate
Somethin’ real that they can’t take
‘Cause, Lord, I’m not your star
So if you wanna trade, I’d say its a hard earned mile
Wanna sweat like hell, throw a hammer down
And know that the old feelin’ of a five o’clock smile
And know I didn’t take no easy way out
And everyone lately’s scarin’ me
It’s all backdoor deals and therapy
The only callous that I’ve grown is in my mind
Longing for Authenticity in “Tradesman”
In “Tradesman,” Zach Bryan crafts a vivid portrait of yearning for a simpler, more honest life, far from the pretense and pressures of modern society. The lyrics reveal a narrator disillusioned by shallow accolades and insincere relationships, wishing instead for the tangible satisfaction of physical labor and genuine camaraderie. Bryan’s imagery—learning from an old layman, sleeping next to mountain fire smoke, and the concept of a “five o’clock smile”—evokes a world where fulfillment is earned and unpretentious. The repeated refrain of wishing to be a tradesman underscores a deep desire to escape artifice and reclaim a sense of purpose and belonging, making the song a poignant reflection on authenticity and self-worth.
Song Credits
- Artist: Zach Bryan
- Songwriter: Zach Bryan