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