For as long as I remembernI ran a life of crimenHarmed everyone that I knownStolen what's not minenProblems solved through violencenFeelings dulled with boozenFather always yelling at menShape up or you will losennThe law's closing in on me...nJust made a BOLO listnHear this confessionalnThese are the tales of the mean fistnThe tales of the mean fistnnAnd to my abandoned daughternI know I let you downnAnd I hope some day you'll pardon menFor the damage that I've donenYour father fought the needlenAnd a judge says the needle wonnLooks like I traded our picket fencenFor a prison cellnnThe law's closing in on me...nJust made a warden's listnHear this confessionalnThese are the tales of the mean fistnThe tales of the mean fistnnNow listen...nnThree walls and prison barsnAre all I'll ever knownLove and compassionnWill become foreign wordsnAnd it won't make a damn bit of differencenIf I repent or make amendsnLife on the installment plannWill surely be my deathnnConsider this a junkie'snLast will and testamentnAnd when I die I know that it isnSafe to place a betnNot a tear will be shednNor a rose for my casketnIt will be a cold, grey daynWhen they lower down mean fist