Cell block five; how I hate bromide
With your coffee in the morning; makes you so sterile
The corner gang never made a man of me, boy

You know the walls are tall, and the inmates scheme
There's no one here that's more than seventeen
Bet your life there's a riot tonight in the mess hall, listen

A letter from your home town makes you sad
You read it when the wardens had a second laugh
He said sentimental rubbish ain't got no place in here, boy

[Chorus]
See the years roll on by
Such a senseless waste of time
What a way to reform
Call out your number
Who's a non conformer?
Not me, baby, oh yeah

Shakey Brown didn't hang around
When a Molotov didn't do its stuff
You went back in there and said it with a sawed-off shotgun

You know Poker Sam couldn't lose a hand
If he did, you were hit by a downtown tram
Or crushed in the path of a moving elevator, elevator

[Chorus]

When I get out, I'll get straight
If this old world gives me half a break
But, if you see me in the corner with a chip on my shoulder
Don't blame me, don't blame me, baby, no, no

Got to make a break for the county line

Writer : STEWART, ROD/WOOD, RON/MC LAGAN, IAN
Copyright : Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.