Well I'm grinding my life out, steady and sure Nothing more wretched than what I must endure I'm drenched in the light that shines from the sun I could stone you to death for the wrongs that you done Sooner or later you make a mistake, I'll put you in a chain that you never will break Legs and arms and body and bone I pay in blood, but not my own. Night after night, Day after day They strip your useless hopes away The more I take the more I give The more I die the more I live I got something in my pocket make your eyeballs swim I got dogs could tear you limb from limb I'm circlin' around the Southern Zone I pay in blood, but not my own. Low cards are what I've got But I'll play this hand whether I like it or not I'm sworn to uphold the laws of God You could put me out in front of a firing squad I've been out and around with the rising men Just like you my handsome friend My head's so hard, must be made of stone I pay in blood, but not my own. Another politician pumping out the piss Another angry beggar blowing you a kiss You got the same eyes that your mother does If only you could prove who your father was Someone must to slipped a drug in your wine You gulped it down and you cross the line Man can't live by bread alone I pay in blood, but not my own. How I made it back home, nobody knows Or how I survived so many blows I've been thru Hell, What good did it do? You bastard! I'm supposed to respect you! I'll give you justice, I'll fatten your purse Show me your moral virtue first Hear me holler and hear me moan I pay in blood but not my own. You get your lover in the bed Come here I'll break your lousy head Our nation must be saved and freed You've been accused of murder, how do you plead? This is how I spend my days I came to bury, not to praise I'll drink my fill and sleep alone I play in blood, but not my own.