Somebody told me about it When I was still a little boy He said to me, crime does not pay He said to me, education is the key, yeah As a little boy I thought I know What I was doing, yeah man But today here I am in jail I' m a prisoner I' m a prisoner I' m a prisoner I looked all around me But to see nothing but four grey walls staring at me the policeman said to me, son They won' t build no schools anymore All they' ll build will be prison, prison All they' ll build will be prison, prison All they' ll build will be prison, prison 'Cause today, yeah I am a prisoner I am a prisoner I' m a prisoner Dear lord I asked the policeman and said How much must I pay for my freedom? He said to me, son They won't build no schools anymore They won't build no hospitals They won't build no hospitals All they' ll build will be prison, prison All they' ll build will be prison, prison All they' ll build will be prison, prison All they' ll build will be prison, prison I am a prisoner I am a prisoner I' m a prisoner Dear lord