O you took my word and you took my key You took my pride and you took my dignity How can I still pretend To be what a man should be Well, whatever I say is in a book Whatever I do there's someone there to look You just can't shake a man The way that I've been shook Now is this the way it's supposed to be Is this the way it's supposed to be A poisoned heart and a twisted memory O is this the way it's supposed to be Is this the way it's supposed to be A poisoned heart and a twisted memory O see that lifer doing his time If I could have his place and he'd have mine We'd be no better off On either side of the line Well, you took my job and you put me to sleep You feed me money, you treat me like a creep Wish I could get away But I must be in it too deep Tell me is this the way it's supposed to be Is this the way it's supposed to be A poisoned heart and a twisted memory O is this the way it's supposed to be Is this the way it's supposed to be A poisoned heart and a twisted memory Well, you tell me you're going to get in touch You send me a letter that reads like double-Dutch You say, you're bound to lose, You're a little such-and-such You got my number, you got my rank You drained my head, you drained my petrol tank And when I die of shame I won't even know who to thank Now, now, is this the way it's supposed to be Is this the way it's supposed to be A poisoned heart and a twisted memory O is this the way it's supposed to be Is this the way it's supposed to be A poisoned heart and a twisted memory