Johnny's in the basement Mixing up the medicine I'm on the pavement Thinking about the government A man in a trench coat Badge out, laid off Says he's got a bad cough Wants to get it paid off Look out kid It's something you did God knows when But you're doing it again You better duck down the alley way Looking for a new fool Man in the coon-skin cap In a big pen Wants eleven dollar bills You only got ten Maggie come fleet foot Face full of black soot Talking that the heat put The plants in the bed but The phone's tapped anyway Maggie says that many say They must bust in early May Orders from the DA Look out kid It's something you did Walk on your tiptoes Don't try "No-Doz" Better stay away from those That carry around a fire hose Keep a clean nose Watch the plain clothes You don't need a weatherman To know which way the wind blows
Get sick, get well Hang around a ink well Ring bell, hard to tell If anything is gonna sell Try hard, get barred Get back, write braille Get jailed, jump bail Join the army, if you fail Look out kid You're gonna get hit By losers, cheaters Six-time users Hang around the theaters The girl by the whirlpool Looking for a new fool Don't follow leaders And watch the parking meters Get born, keep warm Short pants, romance, learn to dance Get dressed, get blessed Try to be a success Please her, please him, buy gifts Don't steal, don't lift Twenty years of schooling And they put you on the day shift Look out kid They keep it all hid Jump down a manhole Light yourself a candle Don't wear sandals Try to avoid the scandals Don't wanna be a bum You better chew gum The pump don't work 'Cause the vandals took the handles