|
I started to cry, they put gin in my cup |
|
I started to crawl, and they swaddled me up |
|
I got up and run, they said, "Easy, son |
|
Play up, play the game" |
|
They told me to think and forget what I'd heard |
|
They told me to lie and they questioned my word |
|
They told me to fail, better sink than sail |
|
Just play the game |
|
Oh, towers will tumble and locusts will visit the land |
|
Oh, a curse on your house and your children and a fruit of your hand |
|
They said, "You can't win, you can't win |
|
You sweat blood, you give in |
|
You can't win, you can't win |
|
Turn the cheek, take it on the chin" |
|
"And don't you dare do this, don't you dare do that |
|
We shoot down dreams, we stiletto in the back |
|
Oh the nerve of some people, the nerve of some people |
|
The nerve of some people, I don't know who you think you are |
|
Who you think you are" |
|
Oh, what kind of mother would hamstring her sons? |
|
Throw sand in their eyes and put ice on their tongues |
|
Ah, better to leave than stay here and grieve |
|
And play the game |
|
Don't waken the dead as you sleepwalk around |
|
If you have a dream, brother, hush, not a sound |
|
Just stand there and rust, die if you must |
|
But play the game |
|
Oh, if we can't have it |
|
Why should a wretch like you? |
|
Oh, it was drilled in our heads |
|
Now we drill it into your head too |
|
They said, "You can't win, you can't win |
|
You sweat blood, you give in |
|
You can't win, you can't win |
|
Turn the cheek, take it on the chin" |
|
"Don't you dare do this, don't you dare do that |
|
We shoot down dreams, we stiletto in the back |
|
Oh, the nerve of some people, the nerve of some people |
|
The nerve of some people, I don't know who you think you are" |
|
The nerve of some people, the nerve of some people |
|
The nerve of some people, the nerve of some people |
|
The nerve of some people, the nerve of some people |
|
... |
