[Verse 1]
Massimo's crew is up on the Dupont roof
Racking three-tab faster than I ever could
I holler up about the spec sheet
But the kid's got his headphones on underneath the hood
I see him set the gun to three-shot burst
Saving time for the bar across the bridge
I got a bad feeling in my sacroiliac
Like watching someone dig their own ditch

[Chorus]
You need four nails when you're racking shingles
Three'll hold it till the lake effect blows
You need four nails when you're racking shingles
Three'll hold it till the lake effect blows

[Verse 2]
Six months later I'm at the Legion
Drinking Export when my phone starts to ring
It's the owner from the Dupont job
Saying half the south slope is in the neighbor's swing set
Ice dam in the valley, water in the soffit
My name still on the permit though I signed it away
I told that boy about the fourth nail
Now I'm explaining to the adjuster all day

[Chorus]
You need four nails when you're racking shingles
Three'll hold it till the lake effect blows
You need four nails when you're racking shingles
Three'll hold it till the lake effect blows

[Bridge]
One for the corner, two for the field
Three for the code but the fourth is the shield
Physics don't care if you're late for your lunch
When the wind hits sixty, you'll hear the crunch

[Chorus]
You need four nails when you're racking shingles
Three'll hold it till the lake effect blows
You need four nails when you're racking shingles
Three'll hold it till the lake effect blows

[Outro]
Four nails... (hammer rings)
Three nails... (wood splinters)
Four nails... (wind howls)