[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
I' m a prisoner (Prisoner)
I am a prisoner (Prisoner)
I am a prisoner (Prisoner)

[Verse 2]
I looked all around me
But to see nothing
But four grey 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
They won't build schools anymore
All they'll build will be prison, prison
They won't build schools anymore
All they'll build will be prison, prison"
'Cause today, yeah
[Chorus]
I am a prisoner (Prisoner)
I am a prisoner (Prisoner)
I am a prisoner (Prisoner)

[Verse 3]
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 schools anymore
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"

[Chorus]
I am a prisoner (Prisoner)
I am a prisoner (Prisoner)
I am a prisoner (Prisoner)