(As for those) in the basement

(Marijuanas) the medicine

(And those) on the pavement

(Burning down the false) government

The man in the trench coat

Badge out, laid off

Says hes got a bad cough

Wants to get it paid off

Look out kid

Its something you did

(Jah) knows when

But youre doin it again

You better duck down 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 ten


Maggie comes fleet foot

Face full of black soot

Talkin that the heat put

Plants in the bed but

The phones tapped anyway

Maggie says that many say

They must bust in early May

Orders from the D.A.

Look out kid

Dont matter what you did

Walk on your tip toes

Dont try No Doz

Better stay away from those

That carry around a fire hose

Keep a clean nose

Watch (those) plain clothes

You dont need a weather man

To know which way the wind blows


(You) get sick, (then) get well

Hang around an ink well

(Things fell), hard to tell

If anything is goin to sell

Try hard, get barred

Get back, write Braille

Get jailed, jump bail

(Dont stop, you dont) fail

Look out kid

Youre gonna get hit

By users, cheaters

Six-time losers

Hang around the theaters

Girl by the whirlpool

Lookin for a new fool

Dont follow leaders

Watch the parkin meters


Ah get born, keep warm

(Girls come) learn to dance

Get dressed, get blessed

Try to be a success

Please her (to please me)

Dont steal, dont (shop) lift

Twenty years of schoolin

And they put you on the day shift

Look out kid

They keep it all hid

(You come out from the dark zone)

Light yourself a (fire torch)

Wear (your) sandals

Try to avoid the scandals

Dont wanna be a bum

(Get yourself a gun)

The pump dont work

Cause the vandals took the handles