We jump 'round the ring, and we loosen your reigns
I heard the man was roamin' free, now he's livin' in chains
Woah wo, everywhere I got the world in tow
No matter where I turn I got to carry its load

Well Shoeshine Brother thinks I'm so naive
Lookin' at me thinkin' I got something hidden up my sleeve
No, Sirree, I'm cool as can be
I got no money, but I'm always feelin' free, free, free

So what you think you're doin'; who do you think you are?
Drinkin' bottles of whiskey, smokin' Cuban cigars
Think if you act like a man, you can alter this wheel
You can make it in this world without that blood on your bootheels

Well get your head right, a-put your keys up on the table
While they polishin' their pistols
And they're staring out the windows
Wonderin' who's a comin' down my gate
Hey, pick a side, Love, tie your boots up
And then get your ass in line

Well see them [swirlers got the bub?]
It's a wonder that they'll ever see the light of day
With people like you walkin' on the street
If police were policin' then I probably wouldn't
Have to follow him every step of his feet

They look me in the eye, and they look me in the face
And they review my fate, say my name [raise your name?]
Son grab your gun and run, ah, you got no appeal
You can make it in this world without that blood on your bootheels

I have a dream too; you think I ain't got dreams?
When I close my eyes and sleep, only thing I can believe in
My religion I envision murderin' everything livin'
When I'm cookin' up my goddamn future in the kitchen

What makes you all my favorite mess
A vision of a blackened head bent over a fence
Took a beatin' to his head, forty bullets to his chest
Now with one hand on the bible, claimed it was in self-defense

I read all those books, yeah I seen all them films
I bet you got a pretty degree up in your window sill
Well leave me out of it; people like me don't live to feel
We can make it in this world without that blood on our bootheels