| I keep on tryin' to get ahead |
| I’m doin' the best I can |
| But every time I try to pull up |
| They pull me right back down again |
| You got me down now and I hope you’re satisfied |
| Oh, it’s so hard to try to keep my head up |
| Yes, when you’re puttin' pressure on me |
| From every side, from every side |
| Even Uncle Sam say |
| I owe a lot of money way back from 1956 |
| Now, how could I owe him anything |
| When that whole year I was sick? |
| They won’t let me make no money |
| Won’t even let me buy no clothes |
| Oh, it’s so hard to get something to eat |
| Yes, and now they wanna throw me outdoors |
| Throw me outdoors |
| Yes, everybody’s laughin' at me |
| I can see the joy in their eyes |
| They’re glad because I’m down now |
| Just look at the devils in disguise |
| And I have no one to turn to |
| No one to lend me a helpin' hand |
| Oh, I’m tellin' you, shapes has really got me now |
| Yes, and I’m a lonely, lonely man |