[Verse 1]
You may be an ambassador, to England or France
You might like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight, champion of the world
You might be a socialite, with a long string of pearls

[Verse 2]
You might be a rock and roll addict, prancing on the stage
You might have drugs at your command or women in a cage
You might be a businessman or some high degree thief
They may call you "Doctor," they may call you "Chief"

[Chorus 1]
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Serve somebody

[Verse 3]
You might be a state trooper, you might be a young tough
You might be the head of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
You may be livin' in another country, underneath another name

[Chorus 2]
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Yes indeed, serve somebody (serve somebody)
Well it might be the Devil or it might be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
[Instrumental]

[Verse 4]
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a City Councilman, takin' bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, knowin' how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress, maybe somebody's heir

[Chorus 3]
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Yes, you are, mmm, yeah
It might be the Devil or it might be the Lord
You're gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)

[Verse 5]
You might like to wear cotton, you might like to wear silk
You might like to drink whiskey, you might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may like to be sleeping on the floor, sleepin' in a king-size bed

[Chorus 4]
You're gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
You're gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Oh, you're gonna have to serve... (serve somebody)
You're gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Serve somebody
It might be the Devil, it might be the Lord (serve somebody)
It may be the Devil, it may be the Lord (serve somebody)
You're gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Somebody, to serve somebody