On a nail which he drove
 Through his wife's lovely forehead
 That he laid on their stove
 Then he looked for his matches
 And heated the heat
 And his soul clasped its hands
 'Bout his deed

 Then he took two gallons
 Of gas in a can
 And doused everything in the house
 How nice it was burning
 But he didn't look back
 Never get caught in a trap

 And he felt the same old freedom
 He used to feel before
 In days of yore

 And his boss saw the muzzle
 Of his old army gun
 The trigger was pulled and he gone
 He was catching the glimpse
 Of forthcoming live
 Well, you've gotta be tough to survive

 And the earth kept on turning
 Like in days of yore
 As an old paltry man reached the shore
 And he felt like a little nothing
 But there was no more pain
 So he jumped and thought
 "Let's do it again"

 And he felt the same old freedom
 He used to feel before
 In days of yore
 And he felt the same old fre