I keep on tryin' to get ahead, I'm doin' the best I can But every time I try to pull up They pull me right back down again You got me down now and I hope you're satisfied Oh, it's so hard to try to keep my head up Yes, when you're puttin' pressure on me From every side, every side Even Uncle Sam say I owe a lot of money way back from nineteen fifty six Now, how could I owe him anything When that whole year I was sick They won't let me make my money Won't even let me buy my clothes Oh, it's so hard to get something to eat Yes, and now they want to throw me outdoors Throw me outdoors Yes, everybody's laughin' at me I can see the joy in their eyes They're glad because I'm down now Just look at the Devils in disguise And I have no-one to turn to No-one to lend me a helpin' hand Oh, I'm tellin' you, shakes has really got me now Yes, I'm a lonely, lonely man