[Intro, repeat x3]
Welfare

[Verse: 1]
A hard sacrifice
I wanna testify, staying a loving man
Society gave me no choice, tried to silence my voice
Put my woman on the welfare

I'm so tired, I'm so tired of trying to prove
My equal rights
Though I've made some mistakes
For goodness sakes
Why you gonna keep messing up my life?

[Chorus]
Keep away from me, Mr. Welfare
Keep away from me, keep away, keep away
Mr. Welfare
Ohhh

[Verse: 2]
Holding me back, using your tax
To make me kneel against my will
That's how it go
Why, I don't know, I don't believe
This life's for real
Like the private eye for the FBI
Just as envious as the Klu Klux Klan
Though I'm a passing fate
And I'm trying to escape
I got to do what I think I can
[Chorus]
Keep away from me, Mr. Welfare
Didn't you hear me, don't come near me, babe
Mr. Welfare, Mr. Welfare

They wanna say I'm a lazy man
But you got to understand
There's a thing about my pride
You can't make me move
If there ain't no groove
Because it eats me all up inside

[Interlude, repeat x2]
Welfare

Just another day, trying to make a way
All I see outside of me is crime
What can I do to make it through
Ain't gonna say nobody's crying
I got a woman, true
And a baby too
With a love that grows and grows and grows
Here come the bills, there go the thrills
And a job, all doors are closed

[Chorus]
Keep away from me, Mr. Welfare
Mr. Welfare, Mr. Welfare
Keep away from me, Mr. Welfare man
They wanna say I'm a lazy man
But you got to understand
There's a thing about my pride
You can't make me move
If there ain't no groove
Because it eats me all up inside

[Interlude, repeat]
Welfare
Hey, hey, hey!