Subterranean Homesick Blues

(As for those) in the basement
(Marijuanas) the medicine
(And those) on the pavement
(Burning down the false) government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says hes got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
Look out kid
Its something you did
(Jah) knows when
But youre doin it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin for a new friend
The man in the coon-skin cap
In the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills
You only got ten

Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talkin that the heat put
Plants in the bed but
The phones tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the D.A.
Look out kid
Dont matter what you did
Walk on your tip toes
Dont try No Doz
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch (those) plain clothes
You dont need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows

(You) get sick, (then) get well
Hang around an ink well
(Things fell), hard to tell
If anything is goin to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write Braille
Get jailed, jump bail
(Dont stop, you dont) fail
Look out kid
Youre gonna get hit
By users, cheaters
Six-time losers
Hang around the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool
Lookin for a new fool
Dont follow leaders
Watch the parkin meters

Ah get born, keep warm
(Girls come) learn to dance
Get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her (to please me)
Dont steal, dont (shop) lift
Twenty years of schoolin
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
(You come out from the dark zone)
Light yourself a (fire torch)
Wear (your) sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Dont wanna be a bum
(Get yourself a gun)
The pump dont work
Cause the vandals took the handles