I got a letter from the government the other day
I opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for the army or whatever
Picture me given' a damn, I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like myself because they 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 begun, to be another one
Public enemy servin' time, they drew the line y'all
To criticize me some crime
I've got a letter, I've got a letter, I've got a letter
Picture me given' a damn, I said never
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
I opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for the army or whatever
Picture me given' 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
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
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
That I'm 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