[Verse 1]
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, no
You know the walls are tall and the inmates scheme
There's no one here that's more than 17
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 warden's 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 nonconformer?
Not me baby, oh yeah
[Verse 2]
Shakey brown didn't hang around
When a Molotow 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]
See the years roll on by
Such a senseless waste of time
What a way to reform
Call out your number
Who's a nonconformer
Not me baby, oh
[Verse 3]
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
Hit me, woo
Ow, ow, ow
[Outro]
Got to make a break for the county line
