Go out yonder, peace in the valley
Come down town, have a rumble in the alley
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in

Has anybody seen my lady,
'Cause livin' alone will drive you crazy
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in

I'm gonna go down to the river,
But I ain't gonna jump in, no, no
I'll just be lookin' for my baby,
'Cause I hear that that's where she's been

Out of nine lives, I've spent seven
How in the world do I get to Heaven?
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
Aw, here it comes!

I just spent sixty days in the jailhouse,
For the crime of havin' no dough, no
Now here I am, back on the streets,
For the crime of havin' nowhere to go

Save your neck, save your brother
Looks like it's one or the other
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
No, no, no

Ooh, Lord, uh huh, I think I'm goin' down by the river
But I ain't gonna jump in, no, no
I'll just be lookin' for my baby,
'Cause I hear that that's where she's been

Out of nine lives, I've spent seven
How in the world do I get to Heaven?
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
Oh, I said: "Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in"