Ain't got no dishes, ain't got no bread,
Ain't got no wishes up in my head.
Ain't got no nickel, ain't got no dime,
Ain't got no watches, ain't got no time.

Ain't got no flower, ain't got no sun,
Ain't got no power, ain't got no fun.
Ain't got no ocean, ain't got no earth,
I don't remember my day of birth.

Some people ain't got nothing, and nothing can't last,
Not even till tomorrow.
You can't live in the present, it's running too fast
To beg and steal or borrow.
Each second in a second's a thing of the past,
Yon pool of pain and sorrow.

Got no temptation, ain't got no youth,
No education, ain't got no truth.
Ain't got no bible, no song to sing,
Free like an eagle with just one wing.

Ain't got no vision, got no idea,
Got no ambition, life's aim's unclear.
Ain't got no brother, ain't got no friend,
Got no relation, no hand to lend.

Some people ain't got nothing, and nothing can't last,
Not even till tomorrow.
You can't live in the present, it's running too fast
To beg and steal or borrow.
Each second in a second's a thing of the past,
Yon pool of pain and sorrow.

I'm narrow-minded, my legs are lame,
My eyes are blinded, ain't got no name.
Can't hear my heartbeat, can't touch my soul,
Feel like my body's a deep dark hole.

No Lord above me, ain't got a clue,
No one who'd love me, I ain't got you.
Big skies are empty and black tonight,
But in my heaven, the stars shine bright.

Some people ain't got nothing, and nothing can't last,
Not even till tomorrow.
You can't live in the present, it's running too fast
To beg and steal or borrow.
Each second in a second's a thing of the past,
Yon pool of pain and sorrow.