ˈiːɡɚ fɚɹə bˈɛɾɚ lˈaɪf, hiː wˈɜːkt æz ɐ kˈʊk fɚðə tˈɛksəs ænd pɐsˈɪfɪk ɹˈeɪlweɪ, sˈeɪvd ˌʌp mˈʌni ænd bˈɔːt jˈuːzd mjˈuːzɪkəl ˈɪnstɹəmənts.
Eager for a better life, he worked as a cook for the Texas and Pacific Railway, saved up money and bought used musical instruments.