I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened it and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me givin' a damn, I said, never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like myself because I never did
I wasn't with it but just that very minute
It occurred to me, the suckers had authority
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell
How long has it been? They got me sittin' in the state pen
I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
I'm not a fugitive on the run
But a brother like me, begin to be another one
Public enemy servin' time, they drew the line y'all
They criticize me for some crime
I got a letter, I got a letter, I got a letter
Picture me givin' a damn, I said, never
Mmm, mmm, mmm
It occurred to me, the suckers had authority
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell
How long has it been? They got me sittin' in the state pen
I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened it and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me givin' a damn, I said, never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like me and myself, because I never did
I wasn't with it but just that very minute
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell
How long has it been? They got me sittin' in the state pen
I gotta get out but that thought was thought before
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
I'm not a fugitive on the run
I'm not a fugitive on the run
Many switch in, switch on, switch off
Many switch in, switch on, switch off
Many switch in, switch on, switch off
Many switch in, switch on, switch off
Many switch in, switch on, switch off
Nevertheless they could not understand
I am a black man and I could never be a veteran
On the strength of situations, I'm real
I got a raw deal, so I'm lookin' for the steel, looking for the steel
I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me givin' a damn, I said, never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like me and myself, because I never did
I wasn't with it, but just that very minute
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell
How long has it been? They got me sittin' in the state pen
I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor