Lyric discussion by joe1000066 

Cover art for Straight Time lyrics by Bruce Springsteen

"Can't get the smell from my hands" refers to his job at the rendering plant. Talk to anyone who has worked at a rendering plant and this is a common problem.

He has a sawed off shotgun on hand just in case he in fact decides to "go tripping cross that thin line." But in the final stanza he's still living the straight life; he just came home from work after another regular day.