[Verse 1]
Life is whittled, life's a riddle
Man's a fiddle that life plays on
When the day breaks and the earth quakes
Life's a mistake all day long

[Pre-Chorus]
You tell me who gives a good goddamn
You'll never get out alive
Don't go dreaming
Don't go scheming
A man must test his mettle
In the crooked old world

[Chorus]
Starving in the belly, starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale
Oh, you're starving in the belly, starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale

[Verse 2]
Don't take my word, just look skyward
They that dance must pay the fiddler
Sky is darkening, dogs are barking
But the caravan moves on
[Pre-Chorus]
You tell me who gives a good goddamn
You'll never get get out alive
Don't go dreaming
Don't go scheming
A man must test his mettle
In the crooked old world

[Chorus]
Starving in the belly, starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale
Oh, we're starving in the belly, starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale, ha

[Verse 3]
As the crow flies, it's there the truth lies
At the bottom of the well
E-O-eleven goes to Heaven
Bless the dead here as the rain falls
Don't trust a bull's horn, a Doberman's tooth
A runaway horse or me
Don't be greedy
Don't be needy
If you live in hope, you're dancing
To a terrible tune
[Chorus]
Starving in the belly, starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale
Oh, starving in the belly, starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale