Folks call me a maverick 
Guess I ain't too diplomatic 
I just never been the kind to go along 
Just avoidin' confrontation 
For the sake of conformation 
And I'll admit I tend to sing a different song 
But sometimes you just can't be afraid 
To wear a different hat 
If Columbus had complied 
This old world might still be flat 
Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained 
Sometimes you've got to go against the grain 
Well, I have been accused 
Of makin' my own rules 
There must be rebel blood 
Just a-runnin' through my veins 
But I ain't no hypocrite 
What you see is what you get 
And that's the only way I know 
To play the game 
Old Noah took much ridicule 
For building his great ark 
But after forty days and forty nights 
He was lookin' pretty smart 
Sometimes it's best to brave the wind and rain 
By havin' strength to go against the grain 
Well, there's more folks than a few 
Who share my point of view 
But they're worried 
If they're gonna sink or swiim 
They'd like to buck the system 
But the deck is tacked against 'em 
And they're a little scared 
To go out on a limb 
But if you're gonna leave your mark 
You can't follow like a bunch of sheep 
You got to listen to your heart 
Go bustin' in like old John Wayne 
Sometimes you got to go against the grain 
Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained 
Sometimes you've got to go against the grain