Shall we take a little spin? To the dark side of town You went up against the mob And now the curtain's comin' down They ordered me to make the hit And there will be dust and bones They want him back in the ground Where they never will be found I hear you paint houses You're a gun for hire I hear you paint houses Down to the wire I hear you paint houses Was all they had to say Some call it street justice When they carry you away Hope my father up above Will forgive me for my sins And raise me up to know better But now the walls are closing in I got caught up in this wicked world But it is the life I chose When you fall into the snakepit Where the emperor has no clothes I hear you paint houses You're a gun for hire I hear you paint houses Right down to the wire I hear you paint houses Was all they had to say Some call it street justice When they carry you away I trusted him, he trusted me One of us made a big mistake When you cross the big boss You ain't gonna catch a break, no I got a bullet with your name on it And I've got a job to do The results ain't too pretty Puttin' cement in your shoes I hear you paint houses A gun for hire I hear you paint houses Right down to the wire I hear you paint houses Was all they had to say Some call it street justice When they carry you away