I admit that I stole your lady, left you with a stocking of coal
But both you and I know that you were never given a soul
Some of us were born to laugh and love, but you were only put here to schmooze
Give you that minimum rhythm, and the maximum blues

Working for those suits, do you have a prayer of keeping up that enlightened air?
You’ve got the brains and the looks but where’s the luck?
They’d need the Hubble just to find your heart so that they could lift it up

Maybe when you’re a little bit older
You’ll see these things you wish that I had never told ya
But ‘til then you be that brainwashed soldier
Marching in circles and firing your weapon like
It was other than yourself that armed ya/ Do you wanna?

In money and mettle you’re honored as a general
But you still feel like you’re scrubbing the floors
‘Cause all those girls, guns, and glory can’t buy you the gift of remorse
I’m sure that years of gumming up your ears
Is gonna leave you narcissistic, bemused
Give you that minimum rhythm, and the maximum blues

You say oppression pays but who’s oppressed?
Is it the kids? The slaves? Is it your mind at rest
They tie you to a tree and say “Stay in the shade”
Well, that’s a damn short rope, remind me, who’s the slave?

Maybe when you’re a little bit older
You’ll see these things you wish that I had never told ya
But you gotta be lookin’ out for number one
Move when they tell ya, keep your eyes skyward
Or you know how you’re gonna end up smelling, hon
And they just laugh along

Your seven boyfriends can’t get you worked up
You’d rather that you had it more hard
Like Romiet and Julio going down in the churchyard
Your contemporaries are all empty queries/ they’d never fit into such small shoes
Give you that minimum rhythm, and the maximum blues