All around I hear the sound of money
But I ain't got a nickel to my name
And everywhere I look I see temptation
She stands on every corner and calls my name

Chorus:
Now won't you tell me if you can
Cause life's so hard to understand
Why's the rich man busy dancing
While the poor man pays the band
Oh, they're billing me
For killing me
Please lord have mercy on the working man

Uncle Sam's got his hands in my pockets
And he helps himself each time
He needs a dime
Them politicians treat me like a mushroom
Cause they fed me bull
And keep me in the blind

Chorus:
So won't you tell me if you can
Cause life's so hard to understand
Why's the rich man busy dancing
While the poor man pays the band
Oh, they're billing me
For killing me
Yeah, lord have mercy on the working man

Hey Saint Peter look down for a minute
And see this little man
About to drown
There's quick sand all around
And man I'm in it
Please help me up Lord
Cause I'm going down

Chorus:
Now won't you tell me if you can
Cause life's so hard to understand
Why's the rich man busy dancing
While the poor man pays the band
Oh, they're billing me
For killing me
Please lord have mercy on the working man

Yeah, now won't you tell me if you can
Cause life's so hard to understand
Why's the fat man busy dancing
While the thin man pays the band
Oh, they're billing me
For killing me
Please lord have mercy on the working man

Please lord have mercy on the working man
Please lord have mercy, on the workingman
Oh yeah, yeah