I got a letter from the government
  The other day
  Opened it and read it
  It said they were suckers
  They wanted me for their army or whatever
  Picture me givin’ a [bad word]  I said never
  Here is a land that never gave a [bad word]   About a brother like myself
  Because I never did
  I wasn’t wit’ it, but just that very minute...
  It occurred to me
  The suckers had authority
  Cold sweatin’ as I dwell in my cell
  How long has it been? 
  They got me sittin’ in the state pen
  I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
  I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
  I’m not a fugitive on [bad word]   But a brother like me begun, to be another one
  Public enemy servin’ time, they drew the line y’all
  They criticize me for some crime
  
  I got a letter, I got a letter, I got a letter
  Picture me given’ a [bad word]  I said never
  Mmm...mmm...mmm
  It occurred to me
  The suckers had authority
  Cold sweatin’ as I dwell in my cell
  How long has it been? 
  They got me sittin’ in the state pen
  I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
  
  I got a letter from the government
  The other day
  Opened it and read it
  It said they were suckers
  They wanted me for their army or whatever
  Picture me givin’ a [bad word]  I said never
  Here is a land that never gave a [bad word]   About a brother like me and myself
  Because I never did
  I wasn’t wit’ it, but just that very minute...
  It occurred to me
  The suckers had authority
  Cold sweatin’ as I dwell in my cell
  How long has it been? 
  They got me sittin’ in the state pen
  I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
  I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
  I’m not a fugitive on [bad word]   I’m not a fugitive on [bad word]   
  Tricky :
  Many switch in, switch on, switch off x5
  
  Martina :
  Nevertheless they could not understand
  That I’m a black man, and I could never be a veteran.
  On the strength of situations, I’m real.
  I got a raw deal, so I’m lookin’ for the steel
  Looking for the steel.
  
  I got a letter from the government
  The other day
  Opened and read it
  It said they were suckers
  They wanted me for their army or whatever
  Picture me givin’ a [bad word]  I said never
  Here is a land that never gave a [bad word]   About a brother like me and myself
  Because they never did
  I wasn’t wit’ it, but just that very minute...
  It occurred to me
  The suckers had authority
  Cold sweatin’ as I dwell in my cell
  How long has it been? 
  They got me sittin’ in the state pen
  I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
  I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
  I’m not a fugitive on [bad word]   I’m not, I’m not
  I’m not a fugitive on [bad word]   But a brother like me begun, to be another one
  Public enemy servin’ time, they drew the line y’all
  To criticize me for some crime
  
  I got a letter from the government
  The other day
  Opened it and read it
  It said they were suckers
  They wanted me for their army or whatever
  Picture me givin’ a [bad word]  I said never
  Here is a land that never gave a [bad word]   About a brother like me and myself
  Because I never did
  I wasn’t wit’ it, but just that very minute...
  
  Mmm...mmm...mmm...mmm
  I got a letter from the government
  The other day
  Opened it and read it
  It said they were suckers
  They wanted me for their army or whatever
  Picture me givin’ a [bad word]  I said never
  Here is a land that never gave a [bad word]