Shake hands with danger
Meet a guy you oughta know
I used to laugh at safety
Now they call me "Three-finger Joe"
I was young and feisty
Never did things by the book
"Just let me get my toolbox,
And I'll take myself a look"
I climbed up on a 'dozer
With my mechanic's pride
Said, "You can keep it running, friend
While I poke around inside."
Shake hands with danger
Meet a guy you oughta know
I used to laugh at safety
Now they call me "Three-finger Joe"
Though I learned a lesson,
I forgot it soon enough
The nicks and burns and scratches
Showed the young ones I was tough
'Till another morning
I was grinding on some steel
My other hand got careless
And fed my skin into the wheel
Shake hands with danger
Step right up and say hello
Grindin' wheels and metal
Are what made me "Three-finger Joe"
I've seen mechanics burnin'
(And) I've seen 'em take a fall
Just to save 'emselves a minute
I've seen 'em loose it all
I've watched 'em courtin' trouble
Seen 'em take a chance and lose
They get careless for a moment;
Spend a lifetime with the blues
Shake hands with danger
Shake hands with danger
Shake hands with danger
Shake hands with danger
Shake hands with danger
And some friends I used to know
Compared to them I'm lucky
To be just "Three-finger Joe"
(Ha-ha-ha)