i keep on tryin' to get ahead
but every time i try to pull up
they pull me right back down again
you got me down now and i hope you're satisfied
it's so hard to try to keep my head up
when you're puttin' pressure on me
i owe a lot of money way back from nineteen fifty six
how could i owe him anything
when that whole year i was sick
they won't let me make my money
won't even let me buy my clothes
it's so hard to get something to eat
and now they want to throw me outdoors
everybody's laughin' at me
i can see the joy in their eyes
they're glad because i'm down now
just look at the devils in disguise
and i have no-one to turn to
no-one to lend me a helpin' hand
shakes has really got me now