© 1995 T. Engelke / T. Northfield

I was raised to work as a child
To build pride with my hands
Papa said to reach the top of the mountain
You must climb as hard as you can
As a young man I left the village
To work in the city heat
Here I learned a new lesson in life
Here the people teach

Popularity Contest, Popularity Contest
Life is a Popularity Contest, day after day

I believe in an honest living
Working for the money, working for the pride
But the world is filled with people
They want it all for nothing they want a free ride
Like a crooked politician busy making deals
And stretching the truth
All that matters is who you know
Not what you can do

It starts in the morning with your family
Down at your work having coffee
And in your schools and your churches we all agree, day after day
Down on the beaches with your girlfriends
Body looks good, body looks tan
Guys raise their eyes and the girls they pretend now
Day after day…day after day…day after day…