cruel, cruel man

ONE

BEFORE CHARITY GOT FAT AND MADE YOU SAY PLEASE

BEFORE LADY LIBERTY HAD DIRTY KNEES

BEFORE FOOD STAMPS AND THAT GOD DAMNED WELFARE CHEESE

I WAS A CRUEL, CRUEL MAN

TWO

BEFORE MY HEART CLINCHED INTO A FIST TO FIGHT FOOLS LIKE YOU

BEFORE I WAS MEDICATED FOR HAVING HAD THE BLUES

BEFORE THE LIES ATE THEIR OWN TAIL AND BECAME TRUE

I WAS A CRUEL, CRUEL MAN

BRIDGE

YOU THINK THAT IM BAD?

YOU THINK THAT IM MEAN

YOU THINK THAT IM DIRTY NOW HONEY

THEN YOU DON’T KNOW CLEAN

ALWAYS TALKIN’ SHIT ABOUT HOW THINGS SHOULDA BEEN

HELL BABY YOU SHOULDA KNOWN ME WAY BACK WHEN!

THREE

OO…OH…OKAY I’LL ADMIT IM A BULL IN MY VERY OWN CHINA SHOP

IM A JUNKIE IN THE RAIN WHO JUST CAN’T COP

IM CHARLIE PARKER WITH THE BEE…AND NOT THE BOP!

AND I WAS A CRUEL, CRUEL

YES I WAS A CRUEL, CRUEL

MAN…