He went back in there and said it with a sawed-off shotgun
The corner gang never made a man of me boys, no
Or crushed in the path of a moving elevator, elevator
Don't blame me, don't blame me baby, no no
You know Poker Sam couldn't lose a hand
What a way to reform, call out your number
See the years roll on by, such a senseless waste of time
Oh, when I get out I'll get straight
A letter from your home town makes you sad
Shakey Brown didn't hang around
You know the walls are taller than the inmates scheme
Who's a nonconformer? Not me baby, oh yeah
When a Molotov, it didn't do its stuff
But, if you see me in the corner with a chip on my shoulder
He said, "Sentimental rubbish ain't got no place in here, boy"
There's no one here that's more than seventeen
Bet your life there's a riot tonight in the mess hall, listen
Oh, see the years roll on by, what a senseless waste of time
You read it when the warden's had a second laugh
If this old world gives me half a break
Who's a nonconformer? Not me baby
What a way to reform, call out your number
If he did he was hit by a downtown tram
