Lyrics: Every State Line

i got pulled over in west texas
so they could look inside my car
he said are you an american citizen
i said yes sir, so far
they made sure i wasn't smuggling
someone in from mexico
someone willing to settle for america
because there's nowhere else to go
every state line
there's a new set of laws
and every police man
comes equipped with extended claws
there's a thousand shades of white
and a thousand shades of black
but the same rule always applies
smile pretty and watch your back

i broke down in louisiana
and had to thumb a ride
got in the first car that pulled over
you can't be picky in the middle
of the night
he said baby do you like to fool around
baby do you like to be touched
i said maybe some other time
fuck you very much

CHORUS
[every state line
there's a new set of laws
and every police man
comes equipped with extended claws
there's a thousand shades of white
and a thousand shades of black
but the same rule always applies
smile pretty and watch your back]

i'm in the middle of alabama
and they stare at me
wherever i go
i don't think they like my haircut
i don't think they like my clothes
i can't wait to get back to n.y.c.
where at least when i walk
down the street
no one ever hesitates to tell me
exactly what they think of me

CHORUS
[every state line
there's a new set of laws
and every police man
comes equipped with extended claws
there's a thousand shades of white
and a thousand shades of black
but the same rule always applies
smile pretty and watch your back]

a little town in pennsylvania
there was snow on the ground
i parked it in an empty lot
where there was no one else around
but i guess i was taking up
too much space
as i was trying to get some sleep
because an officer came by anyway
and told me i had to leave

CHORUS
[every state line
there's a new set of laws
and every police man
comes equipped with extended claws
there's a thousand shades of white
and a thousand shades of black
but the same rule always applies
smile pretty and watch your back]