I heard the law came down in Vegas town They no longer fear the mob Told my wife and kids, "It's a business trip, Daddy's only doin' his job" So I emptied out the savings account Sure that I could beat the odds And though you might not rate a desert grave That town still steals and robs (CHORUS) For free drinks and a dream I gave them my wallet I rolled the dice and upped my price A soul for sale, they bought it Now a billion lights gleam They're twinkling 'bove this dead broke alcoholic And I lost everything To free drinks and a dream The day I sold my car I hit the bar across from my cheap motel room That's when I thought hard about just gettin' out Of this bright and lavish tomb But this place don't sleep on its promise to keep A light on against the gloom She says maybe you got one more shot And that's the lie that's been my ruin A dream of livin' your years out With just a little ease Where a man can afford to be ill And that extra bill won't bring him to his knees Now I'm so alone, I can't go home How could a family understand? That your love for them can do you in Make you a desperate man Though youth is gone still the heart draws you on To devise foolhardy plans You set aside your guilt for kingdoms built On shifting desert sands