This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Turn on the TV, 'cause I got nowhere to go
Seems that there's a little trouble down in Mexico
A 13-year-old boy robs a store so he can eat
And they got him doing time while killers walk the streets
A hungry politician is the wolf that's at the door
Hell-bent submission and feedin' on the poor
We could stare into the sun if we would open up your eyes
But we paint ourselves into a corner colored in white lies
Busted on the rockpile - getting dusted in the heat
Shackled to the system - and draggin' my feet
I'm riding on a breakdown - another whiteknuckled shakedown
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
I'm riding on a breakdown - a suicidal shakedown
Feels like I'm on a chain gang
A con man's intuition can wash your sins away
Send your contribution and he'll save your soul today
What can he know, has he been through hell and back
He takes the cash and drives it home in a brand new Cadillac
Spitting at the guard dog, burning in his wicked deal
Screamin' down the railroad with no one at the wheel
I'm riding on a breakdown another whiteknuckled shakedown
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
I'm riding on a breakdown a suicidal shakedown
Feels like I'm on a chain gang
Faith healin', superstition
Cold blooded criminal mind
Getting off on high position
Hey brother can you spare a dime
To get me off this slaughter line
I'm riding on a breakdown another whiteknuckled shakedown
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
I'm riding on a breakdown a suicidal shakedown
Seems that there's a little trouble down in Mexico
A 13-year-old boy robs a store so he can eat
And they got him doing time while killers walk the streets
A hungry politician is the wolf that's at the door
Hell-bent submission and feedin' on the poor
We could stare into the sun if we would open up your eyes
But we paint ourselves into a corner colored in white lies
Busted on the rockpile - getting dusted in the heat
Shackled to the system - and draggin' my feet
I'm riding on a breakdown - another whiteknuckled shakedown
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
I'm riding on a breakdown - a suicidal shakedown
Feels like I'm on a chain gang
A con man's intuition can wash your sins away
Send your contribution and he'll save your soul today
What can he know, has he been through hell and back
He takes the cash and drives it home in a brand new Cadillac
Spitting at the guard dog, burning in his wicked deal
Screamin' down the railroad with no one at the wheel
I'm riding on a breakdown another whiteknuckled shakedown
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
I'm riding on a breakdown a suicidal shakedown
Feels like I'm on a chain gang
Faith healin', superstition
Cold blooded criminal mind
Getting off on high position
Hey brother can you spare a dime
To get me off this slaughter line
I'm riding on a breakdown another whiteknuckled shakedown
Feels like I'm livin' on a chain gang
I'm riding on a breakdown a suicidal shakedown
Lyrics submitted by thekronic420
Livin' on a Chain Gang Lyrics as written by Rachel Bolan Southworth David Michael Sabo
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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