i got a letter from the government the other day i opened and read it it said they were suckers they wanted me for their army or whatever picture me giving a damn i said never here is a land that never gave a damn about a brother like me and myself because i never did i wasn t with it but just that very minute it occurred to me the suckers had authority cold sweating as i dwell in my cell how long has it been they got me sitting in the state pen i gotta get out but that thought was thought before i contemplated a plan on the cell floor i m not a fugitive on the run but a brother like me begun to be another one public enemy servin time they drew the line y all they criticize me for some crime i got a letter i got a letter i got a letter picture me giving a damn i said never mmm mmm mmm it occurred to me the suckers had authority cold sweatin as i dwell in my cell how long has it been they got me sittin in the state pen i gotta get out but that thought was thought before many switch in switch on switch off nevertheless they could not understand that i m a black man and i could never be a veteran on the strength the situation s unreal i got a raw deal so i m looking for the steel cold sweating as i dwell in my cell how long has it been they got me sitting in the state pen i gotta get out but that thought was thought before i contemplated a plan on the cell floor i m not a fugitive on the run i m not a fugitive on the run i m not i m not i m not a fugitive on the run but a brother like me begun to be another one public enemy servin time they drew the line y all to criticize me for some crime