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 Now 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 Now 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 Now 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 Hey, Lord have mercy on the working man Please Lord have mercy on the working man Please Lord have mercy on the working man