See that black boy over there running scared?
His old man's in the bottle
He done quit nine-to-five, he drinks full time
Now he's living, huh, in the bottle
See that black boy over there running scared?
His old man's got a problem and it's a bad one
He done pawned off damn near anything
His old woman's wedding ring for the bottle

And don't you think it's a crime?
Time after time after time livin' in a bottle
When people livin' in a bottle

Now listen to me
See that sister? She was fine
Before she started drinkin' wine from the bottle
She told me her old man committed a crime
He's doin' time and now she's hangin' in the bottle
I seen her out there on the avenue
All by herself, she sure needs help from the bottle
I seen the preacher man tryin' to help her
She cursed him out and hit him in the head with a bottle

And don't you think it's a crime?
Time after time after time livin' in a bottle
When people livin' in a bottle
In the bottle
See that black boy over there running scared?
His old man's in the bottle
He done quit nine-to-five, he drinks full time
Now he's living, huh, in the bottle
See that black boy over there running scared?
His old man's got a problem and it's a bad one
He done pawned off damn near anything
His old woman's wedding ring for the bottle

And don't you think it's a crime?
Time after time after time livin' in a bottle
When people livin' in a bottle
Now listen to me

And, and, and, and, and, and, and
And don't you think it's a crime?
(Don't you think it's a crime?)
Time after time after time livin' in a bottle
(Time after time)
When people livin' in a bottle
(When people livin' in a bottle)
And don't you think it's a crime?
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Time after time after time livin' in a bottle
When people livin' in a bottle