Lyrics:

I got a letter from the government the other day
I opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving 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 sweating as I dwell in my cell
How long has it been? They got me sitting 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
They criticize me for some crime
I got a letter, I got a letter, I got a letter
Picture me giving a damn -- I said never
Mmm... mmm... mmm
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



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, the situation's unreal; I got a raw deal, so I'm looking for the steel


Cold sweating as I dwell in my cell
How long has it been? They got me sitting 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
I'm not, I'm not
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 for some crime