[Verse 1]
I started to cry, they put gin in my cup
I started to crawl and they swaddled me up
I got up and run, they said, easy son
Play up and play the game

[Verse 2]
They told me to think and forget what I heard
They told me to lie and they questioned my word
They taught me to fail, better sink than sail
Just play the game

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, towers will tumble
And locusts will visit the land
Oh, a curse on your house
And your children and the fruit of your hand

[Chorus]
They said you can't win, you can't win
You sweat blood, give in
You can't win, you can't win
Turn the cheek, take it on the chin
Don't you dare do this, don't you dare do that
We shoot down dreams, stiletto in the back
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
I don't know who you think you are
Who you think you are
[Verse 3]
What kind of mother would hamstring her sons?
Throw sand in their eyes and put ice on their tongues
Ah, better to leave than stay here and grieve
And play the game

[Verse 4]
Don't awaken the dead as you sleepwalk around
If you have a dream, brother, hush, not a sound
Just stand there and rust, and die if you must
Just play the game

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, if we can't have it
Why should a wretch like you?
Oh, it was drilled in our heads
Now we'll drill it into your head too

[Chorus]
They said you can't win, you can't win
You sweat blood, you give in
You can't win, you can't win
Turn the cheek, take it on the chin
Don't you dare do this, don't you dare do that
We shoot down dreams, stiletto in the back
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
I don't know who you think you are
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
Oh, the nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
The nerve of some people
Oh, oh, oh, oh
[Guitar Solo]