Subterranean Homesick Blues

[Verse 1] 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 T's somethin' you did God knows when but you're doin' it again You better duck down in 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 seven [Verse 2] 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 out for plain clothes You don't need a weather man To know which way the wind blows [Verse 3] Get sick, get well Hang around a 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 [Verse 4] 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 better chew gum The pump don't work 'Cause the vandals took the handles