I was born there,   Before I knew better.   Went to school there,   But learned to avoid that.   Fell in love there,   But love couldn t thrive there.   Picked it up   And I left it behind, said -      Man, alive!   Get me out of this barrel of crabs.      Most our homes were   Depressed by division.   What passed for friendship   Was really protection .   Any work there   Disolved into trouble.   Ate me up,   Livin life on the bubble, said -      Man, alive!   Get me out of this barrel of crabs.      Everytime I d gain some ground,   Another man s scheme would just pull me back down.   Everytime I spied the top.   The next poor sucker s there to give me the drop.