Songtext Empty hands John Mellencamp

Empty hands

In the shadows of the smokestacks
Through the black snow, that lay on the land
Walked home one winter morning
With my live savings in my hand
Maryanne, shes fixin up some breakfast
Got the lights on, on the christmas tree
Sittin there, lookin up at an angel
With something dyin inside of me

Grew up with great expectations
Heard the promise and I knew the plan
They say people get what they deserve
But lord, sometimes its much worse than that
Maryanne, she takin in some laundry
I got a part time job in a drive-in stand
Oh lord, what did I do
To deserve these empty hands?

Chorus:
Across the cities
Across this land
Through the valleys
And across the sand
Too many people standin in line
Too many people with nothin planned
Theres too many people with
Empty hands

Now maryannes been cryin
lord knows, I love her the best I can
When my pride is bruised and broken
She slips her hand into my empty hands
Without hope, without love
Youve got nothing but pain
Just makes a man not give a dammn
Thats no way for us to live
Weve got to fill these empty hands

Chorus:
Across the cities
Across this land
Through the valleys
And across the sand
Too many people standin in line
Too many people with nothin planned
Theres too many people with
Empty hands