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

'cause there's nowhere else to go



and 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 I 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



and 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

they stare at me where ever 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 New York City

where at least when I walk down the street

nobody ever hesitates

to tell me exactly what they think of me



and 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

a parked 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

'cause an officer came by anyway

and told me I had to leave



and 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