[Intro]
Turn on the TV, 'cause I got nowhere to go
It seems that there's a little trouble down in Mexico
A thirteen-year-old boy robs a store so he can eat
They got him doing time while killers walk the streets

[Verse 1]
A hungry politician is the wolf that's at the door
He's hell-bent on submission and he's feedin' on the poor
We could stare into the sun if we would open up our eyes
But we paint ourselves into a corner, colored in white lies

[Pre-Chorus]
(Busted on a rock pile) Get dusted in the heat
(Shackled to the system) And draggin' my feet

[Chorus]
(I'm ridin' on a breakdown, another white-knuckled shakedown)
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
(I'm riding on a breakdown, suicidal shakedown)
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang

[Verse 2]
A con man's intuition can wash your sins away
Send your contribution and he'll save your soul today
What does he know? Has he been through hell and back?
He takes the cash and he drives it home in a brand new Cadillac
[Pre-Chorus]
(Spittin' at the guard dog) Burnin' in his wicked deal
(Screamin' down the railroad) With no one at the wheel, no-woah

[Chorus]
(I'm ridin' on a breakdown, another white-knuckled shakedown)
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
(I'm riding on a breakdown, suicidal shakedown)
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang

[Guitar Solo]

[Bridge]
Oh, faith healin', superstition
Cold-blooded criminal mind
Gettin' off on high position
Hey, brother can you spare a dime
To get me off this slaughter line?

[Chorus]
(I'm ridin' on a breakdown, another white-knuckled shakedown)
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
(I'm riding on a breakdown, suicidal shakedown)
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
(I'm ridin' on a breakdown, another white-knuckled shakedown)
Woah, feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
(I'm riding on a breakdown, suicidal shakedown)
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang, yeah