I've had a little time to reason 
I've had a little time to grow 
There's people in the world I'm pleasin' 
There's people in the world who don't wanna know 

But the future's gonna be much better 
I can tell you that I've paid my dues 
Now you tell me where, where did you get your blues 

Won't you talk to me about your problems 
Tell me all about your ways 
Sometimes I feel like a helpless child 
Won't you help me through these rock bottom days 

But the future's gonna be much better 
I can tell you that I've paid my dues 
Now you tell me where, where did you get your blues 
When you're on the street you ain't nobody's fool – no you ain't 

I'm looking for a good example 
I'm looking for a piece of the game 
I didn't know that I was a gambling man 
When you're on the ground it all looks the same 

But the future's gonna be much better 
I can tell you that I've paid my dues 
Now you tell me where, where did you get your blues 
When you're on the street you ain't nobody's fool – no you ain't 

Don't decide that you've lost everything (3x)
Don't you decide that you have lost everything 
Won't you help me 
Please help me now 
Help me help myself, I can't help myself (4x)

But the future's gonna be much better 
I can tell you that I've paid my dues 
Now you tell me where, where did you get your blues 
When you're on the street you ain't nobody's fool – no you ain't