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