Subterranean Homesick Blues
By Reckless Kelly


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Johnny's in the basement mixing up the medicine
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I'm on the pavement thinking about the government
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The man in the trench coat, badge out, laid off
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Says he's got a bad cough and wants to get it paid off
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Look out kid, it's somethin' you did
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God knows when but you're doin' it again
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You better duck down the alley way, lookin' for a new friend
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The man in the coon-skin cap, in the big pen
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Wants eleven dollar bills, you only got ten

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Maggie comes fleet foot, face full of black soot
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Talkin' that the heat put plants in the bed but
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The phone's tapped anyway, Maggie says that many say
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They must bust in early, may orders from the D.A.
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Look out kid, don't matter what you did
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Walk on your tip toes, don't try "NoDoz"
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Better stay away from those that carry around a fire hose
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Keep a clean nose, watch the plain clothes
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You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows

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Get sick, get well, hang around a ink well
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Ring bell, hard to tell, if anything is goin' to sell
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Try hard, get barred, get back, write Braille
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Get jailed, jump bail, join the army, if you fail
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Look out kid, you're gonna get hit
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But losers, cheaters, six-time users
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Hang around the theaters 
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Girl by the whirlpool, lookin' for a new fool 
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Don't follow leaders, watch the parkin' meters

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Ah get born, keep warm, short pants, romance, learn to dance 
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Get dressed, get blessed, try to be a success
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Please her, please him, buy gifts, don't steal, don't lift 
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Twenty years of schoolin' and they put you on the day shift
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Look out kid no matter what you did
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Jump down a manhole, light yourself a candle
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Don't wear sandals, try to avoid the scandals
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Don't wanna be a bum, you better chew gum
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The pump don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles