[Verse 1]
Go out yonder, peace in the valley
Come downtown, have to rumble in the alley
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in

[Verse 2]
Has anybody seen my lady?
This livin' alone would drive me crazy
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in

[Bridge]
I'm gonna go down by the water
But I ain't gonna jump in, no, no
I'll just be lookin' for my maker
And I hear that that's where she's been

[Verse 3]
Oh, out of nine lives, I spent seven
Now how in the world do you get to Heaven?
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in

[Bridge]
I've just spent sixty days in the jail house
For the crime of having no dough, no, no
Now here I am back out on the street
For the crime of having nowhere to go
[Verse 4]
Save your neck or save your brother
Looks like it's one or the other
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in

[Verse 5]
Now two young kids might start a ruckus
You know, they feel you're tryin' to shuck us
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in