"Freeze" said the man cruisin' the beat. "You get your hands up and spread your feet". "Don't you move an inch" I heard him say. "Or you'll be doin' time 'til the judgement day". And he said "Don't tell me no lies give me alibise. 'Cause if you cross my path you'll be doin' life". It's a dirty lie. (Chorus:). It's a shakedown. And it's a nervous shakedown. A nervous shakedown. Another nervous shakedown. It's a shakedown. And it's a nervous shakedown. We got a shakedown. Another nervous shakedwon. It's more like a set - up. "Take a dime" said the man. "You can make one call. You get a one - way ticket to the County Hall". Well the judge looked high and I looked low. And when he smiled at me it was a one - man -show. He said "Two to five the jury dicides. Double parole if you survive. It's a dirty life. (Chorus)