[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)