Blackbird sitting on an open gate
Cattle out walking the plains
West wind blowing in waist-high wheat
Sideways in the rain
Bloodhound spent, can't get no trail
Ain't no sign of man
Wanna get ourselves on the straight and the narrow
Gonna need a better plan
Roll your sleeves up
Hold back the dam
Fill these bags with sand
Every young boy, woman
And every man
Has got to lend a hand
It ain't no old wives tale, it ain't no fable
Payback is coming around
The hourglass is sitting there on the table
Filled on both sides now
The work is potluck, grab a hatchet
Wear any glove that fits
You can't take a punch, well you might as well quit
Won't matter how hard you hit
Roll your sleeves up
Shovel the land
Rise up and learn how to stand
Now, you're a toothless woman
Or a one armed man
You too got to lend a hand
We're losing daylight, you got to be swift
You ain't got brains that you can lift
Be an optimist and see the glass half full
You don't got to like what you've got in it
When your father gets home he's gonna turn on the lights
We're up to our throats in knifes
His eyes will flash and his teeth will grind
He'll say, "You're on your own, look alive!"
Suppose I quit you, my wayward tribe
Whatever would you do?
Now take me to Hades, or take me to Memphis
Just don't take me for one of you
Roll your sleeves up
The fat lady sang
Grab your buckets and cans
Come over the border
Your papers in order
You too got to lend a hand
Roll your sleeves up
Hold back the dam
Fill these bags with sand
Every young boy, woman
And every tired old man
You too got to lend a hand