We bought into the promise of a better, greener day That 7 years would buy us a piece of tomorrow's dream We took it all for granted we were always to be rich We could own what we made but owe more than we make So, brother, could you spare a dime For a cup of coffee or a smoke to pass the time While I'm waiting in this God-forsaken line Of human lottery to shine, just shine Used to be important in a white collar job Used to make good money, now I'm lucky getting by My wife is almost frantic, I'm too old for other work If you can't do something for me, I'm bound to kill myself Brother, it's not like me to ask But I'm running short of everything And nothing coming fast When work is all I really need From this God-forsaken line to shine, just shine Mad with the impossible - out of chaos is our dream Too heavy for wings - we will sink beneath its weight If I could only use my head as a candle for the Holy Ghost Sing for the corpses, "Happy Days Are Here Again"