Livin' on a Chain Gang

Turn on the TV, 'Cause I got nowhere to go Seems that there's a little trouble down in Mexico A 13-year-old boy robs a store so he can eat And they got him doing time while killers walk the streets A hungry politician is the wolf that's at the door Hell-bent on submission and feedin' on the poor We could stare into the sun if we would open up our eyes But we paint ourselves into a corner colored in white lies Busted on a rockpile Getting dusted in the heat Shackled to the system And draggin' my feet I'm riding on a breakdown Another whiteknuckled shakedown Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang I'm riding on a breakdown A suicidal shakedown Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang A con man's intuition can wash your sins away Send your contribution and he'll save your soul today What can he know, has he been through hell and back He takes the cash and drives it home in a brand new Cadillac Spitting at the guard dog, burning in his wicked deal Screamin' down the railroad with no one at the wheel I'm riding on a breakdown Another whiteknuckled shakedown Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang I'm riding on a breakdown A suicidal shakedown Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang Faith healin', superstition Cold-blooded criminal mind Getting off on high position Hey brother can you spare a dime To get me off this slaughter line I'm riding on a breakdown Another whiteknuckled shakedown Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang I'm riding on a breakdown A suicidal shakedown Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang I'm riding on a breakdown Another whiteknuckled shakedown Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang I'm riding on a breakdown A suicidal shakedown Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang