I USED TO LOVE THIS TOWN, AN' THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
THE STREETS WERE SAFE, THE SCHOOLS WERE GOOD
THE MILL WAS HUMMIN', TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN

I WAS FOREMAN ON THE LINE, THREE TO ELEVEN
BUT EIGHTEEN MONTHS AN' TWO DAYS AGO
THE MILL CLOSED DOWN AND MOVED TO MEXICO


Chorus
I PAID MY BILLS

I PAID MY DUES
AN' I PAID MY SHARE OF TAXES TOO
NOW I CAN'T BUY MY BABIES' SHOES

I GOT THESE RED, WHITE, AND PINK-SLIP BLUES

I HIDE THE PICKUP TRUCK IN RICKY BROWN'S GARAGE

OVER ON THE NEXT BLOCK, 'CUZ THERE'S A REPO MAN TO DODGE
I SLIP OUT THE BACK DOOR
LORD I NEVER THOUGHT I'D LIVE TO SEE THIS DAY

WE'RE GONNA NEED THAT TRUCK
WHEN THEY COME TO TAKE THE HOUSE AWAY


Chorus
I PAID MY BILLS
I PAID MY DUES

I PAID MY SHARE OF TAXES TOO
NOW I CAN'T EVEN BUY MY LITTLE BABIES' SHOES
I GOT THESE RED, WHITE, AND PINK-SLIP BLUES


Spoken
YOU KNOW I LOVE MY COUNTRY

'N' I'M NOT ONE TO COMPLAIN
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF US THAT FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN LEFT STRANDED HERE...
OUT IN THE RAIN


Chorus
I PAID MY BILLS

I PAID MY DUES
I PAID MY SHARE OF TAXES TOO
NOW I CAN'T BUY MY KIDS NO SHOES

I GOT THESE RED, WHITE, AND PINK-SLIP BLUES

Tag

IS ANYBODY LISTENING
HEY POLITICIANS WE'RE TALKING TO YOU
(IS ANYBODY LISTENING)

ARE YOU GONNA HELP US PULL ON THROUGH
(IS ANYBODY LISTENING)
OR JUST LEAVE US STANDIN' HERE

(IS ANYBODY LISTENING)