Subterranean Homesick Blues lyrics

Johnny's in the basement
mixing up the medicine
I'm on the pavement
thinking about the
government

The man in the
trench coat
badge out, laid off
says he's got
a bad cough

Wants to get it
paid off
look out kid
it's somethin' you did

God knows when
but you're doin' it again
you better duck down
the alley way

Lookin' for a new friend
the man in the coon-skin
cap and 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
phone's tapped anyway

Maggie says that many
say they must bust in
early May
orders from the D. A.

Look out kid
don't matter
what you did

Walk on your tip toes
Don't try "No Doz"
better stay away from
those that carry around
a fire hose

Keep a clean nose
watch the plain clothes
you don't need a weather
man to know which
way the wind blows

Get sick, get well
hang around an ink well
ring bell, hard to tell
if anything is goin' to sell

Try hard, get barred
get back, write braille
get jailed, jump bail

Join the army
if you fail
look out kid
you're gonna get hit

By users, cheaters
six-time losers
hang around
the theatres

Girl by the whirlpool
is lookin' for a new fool
don't follow leaders
watch the parkin'
meters

Ah get born, keep warm
short pants, romance,
learn to dance
get dressed, get blessed

Try to be a success
please her, please him,
buy gifts, don't steal,
don't lift

Twenty years of
schoolin' and they put
you on the day shift
look out kid

They keep it all hid
better jump down
a manhole
light yourself a candle

Don't wear sandals
try to avoid
the scandals

Don't wanna be a bum
you'd better chew gum
the pump don't work
'cause the vandals
took the handles