() I'd rather be a fox with the hunters on his trail I'd rather be an old dog left to () () I'd rather have no one to come home to Than to live in () day Chorus I'd rather be a lonesome pine way out on the ridge All alone blowin' in the wind and () rain I'd () rather be a homeless man Sleepin' underneath a railroad bridge Than to love a () pain Instrumental Break – Follow pattern of chorus () The farmer offers life and labor to the land With a gentle hand he tends the fertile () () And in the golden fields at harvest time I offered you my () down Chorus Instrumental Break – Follow pattern of chorus Chorus ()