The Real Trick      Lyrics
Words & Music by Ray Wylie Hubbard

Christopher turned 16 on a chemical dependancy wing
And on family week his momma come up and she says
I aint gonna stay for this whole thing
She says I've got more important things to do than to listen 
to this ungrateful son
Chris said if being a parent so tough how come just anybody can be one?

Sweet Melissa she turned her first trick at seventeen
for some backstreet passes and some hashish in the back of a limosine
now she's seen it all and she don't want to be here or even anywhere
and at 22 she's got what the boys at the VA call the 1000 yard stare.

(Chorus) Ahh but the real trick is to find a reason to believe in spite of all this
and the big secret is what you're lookin for you're lookin with.

Miss Helen Petty she lost her husband of 42 years
Now she don't know what to do with herself and she just can't seem to stop the tears.
And she can't sleep at night and she is so affraid and so alone 
There are these bastards who take advantage of these precious desparate souls

Like there is this man on Sunday morning on TV who jumps around and screams and shouts
And he says to get me in to Heaven is the only thing that he is about
But to get there I've got to believe what he believes
Well if thats the case I believe I'll take my chances when it's time for me to leave

(Chorus) Ahh but the real trick is to find a reason to believe in spite of all this
and the big secret is what you're lookin for you're lookin with.

We are all lengthening shadows cast by a sinking sun
So we need to find this reason to believe in something
or someone; but it is hard to believe with just faith alone
We feel betrayed by life when the infidelity is our own

I dont concern my self with how Jesus was born or if he was raised from the dead. 
It just comes down to the things that he said
So many more than Judas have betrayed his name
And this beautiful ancient wisdom has been prostituted for personal gain

(Chorus) Ahh but the real trick is to find a reason to believe in spite of all this
and the big secret is what you're lookin for you're lookin with.