Brother livin' in a cell, 哥哥活着的细胞，

Doin' time in a county jail, 上来的时候在县监狱，

Now you might think his life is hell, 现在，你可能会觉得他的生活就是地狱，

But he told me, first room he ever had to himself 但他告诉我，第一个房间，他曾经有过自己

He's just, waitin' for the axe to fall, 他只是，乖乖等着斧头落下，

Sometimes lord I think that's all, 有时候，主人，我认为这是所有，

When you're head is on a block 当你的头是一个块

ain't no way for it to stop 也不是没有办法让它停下

You're just waitin' for the axe to fall. 你只是乖乖等着斧头落下。

   

Brother served in Viet Nam, 哥哥曾在越南，

and found out no one gives a damn. 并且发现没有人给一个该死的。

Agent Orange fell on his camp (but everybody went deaf) 橙剂倒在他的阵营（但每个人又聋）

Brother turned around on Uncle Sam. 哥哥转身上山姆大叔。

Waiting for the axe to fall; 等待斧头落下;

Sometimes, Lord I think that's all. 有时候，上帝，我觉得就是这样。

When your head is in the noose 当你的头在绞索

and won't nobody turn you loose 也不会有人把你松

you're waiting for the axe to fall. 你就等着斧头落下。

   

Sister on the welfare line, 大姐的福利线，

Examining the threads of her life, 检查她生活的主题，

She never thought she'd be cheatin' and lyin' 她从没想过她会不忠“和胡扯

Just makin' sure her and her kids survive 只是金肯定她和她的孩子生存

It's gettin' tougher just, waitin' for the axe to fall 这是刚开了强硬只是，乖乖等着斧头落下

Sometimes lord I think that's all 有时候，主人，我认为这是所有

When you're head is on the block 当你脑袋是块

and ain't nobody trying to stop 而不是没有人试图阻止

You're just waitin' for the axe to fall 你只是乖乖等着斧头落下

   

Last night grandma should got shook 昨天晚上奶奶应该得到震撼

'cause someone took her pocketbook 因为有人把她的钱袋

She ain't safe in the neighborhood 她是不是安全的邻里

'cause too many youngin's up to no good “引起太多youngin的搞鬼

They're just, waitin' for the axe to fall 他们只是，乖乖等着斧头落下

Sometimes lord I think that's all 有时候，主人，我认为这是所有

When your head is in the noose 当你的头在绞索

and won't nobody turn you loose 也不会有人把你松

You're waitin' for the axe to fall 你的斧头落在等待着