"Freeze!" said the man cruising the beat
"You get your hands up, spread your feet"
"Don't you move an inch", I heard him say
"Or you'll be doin' time until the judgement day"

And he said, "Don't tell me no lies, give me alibis
'Cause if you cross my path, you'll be doin' life"
It's a dirty lie

It's a shakedown (and it's a nervous shakedown)
Another shakedown (another nervous shakedown)
Well it's a shakedown (and it's a nervous shakedown)
We got a shakedown
Another nervous shakedown

It's looking like a set-up

"Take a dime," said the man, "you can make one call"
"You got a one way ticket to the county hall"
Well the judge looked high and I looked low
When he smiled at me it was a one man show

He said, "10-to-5, the jury decides
Double parole, if you survive"
It's a dirty lie

It's a shakedown (and it's a nervous shakedown)
Another shakedown (another nervous shakedown)
Well it's a shakedown (and it's a nervous shakedown)
We got a shakedown
Another nervous shakedown

Lord they're gonna get you this time
And throw away the key

(Lock him up)

It's a shakedown (and it's a nervous shakedown)
Another shakedown (another nervous shakedown)
You got a shakedown (and it's a nervous shakedown)
Well it's a shakedown (another nervous shakedown)
Shake it down, shake it down (and it's a nervous shakedown)
Well it's a shakedown (another nervous shakedown)
Shake it down, shake it down (and it's a nervous shakedown)
It's a shakedown

It's a shakedown on
You

Yes