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 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 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 feed me bull and keep me in the blind 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 Lord have mercy on the working man Hey, St. Peter look down for a minute And see this little man about to drown There's quicksand all around and man I'm in it Please help me up Lord cause I'm going down 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 Lord have mercy on the working man 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 Lord have mercy on the working man Please, Lord have mercy on the working man Please, Lord have mercy on the working man