It's against the law to walk, and against the law to talk 
Against the law to loaf, against the law to work 
Against the law to read, against the law to write 
Against the law to be a black, a brown, or white 

Everything's against the law 
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues 

It's against the law to eat, against the law to drink 
Against the law to worry, against the law to think 
Against the law to marry or try to settle down 
Against the law to ramble like a bum from town to town 

Everything's against the law 
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues 

It's against the law to come, against the law to go 
Against the law to ride, against the law to roll 
Against the law to hug and against the law to kiss 
Against the law to shoot, against the law to miss 

Everything's against the law 
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues 

It's against the law to gamble, against the law to roam 
Against the law to organize or try to build a home 
Against the law to sing, it's against the law to dance 
Against the law to tell you all the trouble on my hands 

Everything in Winston-Salem is against the law 
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues