In the middle of a gun fight
In the center of a restaurant
They say, come with your arms raised high
Well, they're never gonna get me,
And like a bullet through a flock of doves
To wage this war against your faith in me
Your life, will never be the same
On your mother's eyes, say a prayer say a prayer

Now, but I can't
And I don't know
How we're just two men as God had made us
Well, I can't, well, I can
Too much, too late, or just not enough of this
Pain in my heart for your dying wish
I'll kiss your lips again

They all cheat at cards and the checkers are lost
My cellmate's a killer, they made me do push-ups (in drag)
But nobody cares if you're losing yourself am I losing myself
Well, I miss my mom
Will they give me the chair
Or lethal injection, or swing from a rope if you dare
Ah, nobody knows all the trouble I've seen

Now, but I can't
And I don't know
How we're just two men as God had made us
Well, I can't, well, I can
Too much, too late, or just not enough of this
Pain in my heart for your dying wish
I'll kiss your lips again

To your room
What they ask of you
Will make you want to say, so long
Well, I don't remember
Why remember you

Do you have the keys to the hotel
'Cause I'm gonna string this motherfucker on fire (fire)

Life is but a dream for the dead
And well I, I won't go down by myself
But I'll go down with my friends
Now now now now, now now now, now now now, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh


Lyrics submitted by Mike NJSS, edited by suus105904, SmashingDestiny

You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison Lyrics as written by Gerard Way Frank Iero

Lyrics © BLOW THE DOORS OFF CHICAGO

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You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison song meanings
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    General Comment

    Oh, yeah... I think I said this already, but I can't get onto the computer except for on the weekends... So if I don't answer your replies right away, don't give up on me, 'cuz I will eventually.

    DemolitionLover13on September 24, 2005   Link

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