Lyrics

Chumps & Bums
Yves Stilmant © 2025

Verse 1A
He's got a big ol' mouth and a tin can truck,
Rolls down Main Street actin' like he's tough.
Says he's been to war, says he's run with the best --
But the stories change with every breath.
Verse 1B
He's wearin' new boots that ain't seen no dirt,
Got a shine so clean they don't even hurt.
Calls himself a cowboy, claims he's born to ride --
But he's never spent a night outside.
Pre-Chorus
I've heard the noise, I've smelled the smoke,
And watched these wannabes go broke.
Truth ain't loud, it don't need drums --
It walks real quiet when the hard times come.

Chorus
Chumps and bums, I've seen a few,
All hat, no heart, nothin' true.
Flappin' gums with empty lungs,
Tough on talk, but soft on runs.
They fold when life hits like a drum --
Ain't no fight in chumps and bums.
Verse 2A
He drinks like a man, but he hides from pain,
Blames the world when it starts to rain.
Talks big game 'bout grit and grace --
But you can read the fear right on his face.
Verse 2B
Says he's outlaw-bred, but he's born for show,
A leather vest and a fake shadow.
He don't know sweat, don't know scars --
Just diesel fumes and borrowed bars.
Pre-Chorus
I've walked through hell to earn this voice,
Didn't fake it, didn't have a choice.
So don't preach hard till you've come undone --
Real don't rattle like a loaded gun.
Chorus
Chumps and bums, I've seen a few,
Lip service kings with no follow-through.
Slingin' noise like empty drums,
Lookin' mean but always run.
You don't fool the fightin' ones --
Not with smoke, chumps and bums.
Bridge (Breakdown / Spoken Grit)
You wanna ride tall?
Better fall hard.
Wanna wear the name?
Earn every scar.
We don't bow to loud or fake --
You want respect? You gotta break.
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Guitar Solo (gritty, heavy, Telecaster wail)
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Final Chorus (all-out, full band)
Chumps and bums, I've known a few,
Big on bark, low on truth.
I've bled too long to fall for crumbs,
I don't kneel for chumps and bums.
Turn your tail when the trouble comes --
We see through chumps and bums.