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