Subterranean Homesick Blues

And say Johnny's in the basement mixin' up the medicine

I'm on the pavement, thinkin' 'bout 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 alleyway, lookin' for a new friend

The man in the coon-skin cap is in the big pen

Wants eleven dollar bills, but you only got ten

Maggie comes fleet foot, face full of black soot

Talkin' that the heat put plants in the bed book

The phone's tapped anyway, Maggie says, "The man, he say

They gotta bust in early May, orders from the D.A."

Look out, kid, no matter what you did

Walkin' on your tip toes, don't tie no bows

You better stay away from those that carry around a fire hose

Keep a clean nose, watch the plainclothes

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows

You say get sick, get well, hang around an ink well

Ring bail, hard to tell if anything is goin' to sell

Try hard to 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

Hangin' 'round the theaters

Girl by the whirlpool's lookin' for a new fool

Don't follow no leaders, watch the parkin' meters

Get born, get warm, short pants, romance

Learn to dance, get dressed, get yourself blessed, try to be a success

Please her, please him, buy gifts, don't steal, don't lift, no, man

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 want to be a bum, you better chew gum

The pump don't work 'cause the vandals stole the handles