Somebody told me about it
When I was still a little boy
He said to me, crime does not pay
He said to me, education is the key, yeah

As a little boy I thought I knew
What I was doing, yeah, man
But today, here I am in jail

I'm a prisoner
I'm a prisoner
I'm a prisoner

I looked all around me
But to see nothing
But four gray walls staring at me

The policeman said to me, "Son
They won't build no schools anymore
All they'll build will be prison, prison
All they'll build will be prison, prison
All they'll build will be prison, prison"
'Cos today, yeah

I am a prisoner
I am a prisoner
I'm a prisoner, dear Lord

I asked the policeman and said
"How much must I pay for my freedom?"
He said to me, "Son
They won't build no schools anymore
They won't build no hospitals
They won't build no hospitals"

"All they'll build will be prison, prison
All they'll build will be prison, prison
All they'll build will be prison, prison
All they'll build will be prison, prison"

I'm a prisoner
I'm a prisoner
I'm a prisoner

I'm a prisoner
I'm a prisoner
I'm a prisoner

I'm a prisoner
I'm a prisoner
I'm a prisoner