I got a letter from the government The other day I opened and read it It said they were suckers They wanted me for the army or whatever Picture me given' a damn, I said never Here is a land that never gave a damn About a brother like me and myself Because they never did I wasn't wit' it, but just that very minute It occurred to me The suckers had authority Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell How long has it been? They got me sittin' in the state pen I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before I contemplated a plan on the cell floor I'm not a fugitive on the run But a brother like me begun, to be another one Public enemy servin' time, they drew the line y'all To criticize me some crime, never the less They could not understand that I'm a black man And I could never be a veteran On the strength, the situation's unreal I got a raw deal, now I'm lookin' for the steel
(Many switch in, switch on, switch off (Repeat x5)) Nevertheless they cannot understand That I'm a black man, and I could never be a veteran. On the strength of situations, I'm real. I got a raw deal, so I'm lookin' for the steel Lookin' for the steel.