so they could look inside my car
 he said are you an american citizen
 I said
 yes sir
 so far
 they made sure I wasn't smuggling
 someone in from Mexico
 someone willing to settle for america
 'cause there's nowhere else to go

 and every state line
 there's a new set of laws
 and every police man
 comes equipped with extended claws
 there's a thousand shades of white
 and a thousand shades of black
 but the same rule always applies
 smile pretty, and watch your back

 I broke down in Louisiana
 and I had to thumb a ride
 got in the first car that pulled over
 you can't be picky in the middle of the night
 he said
 baby, do you like to fool around
 baby, do you like to be touched
 I said
 maybe some other time
 fuck you very much

 and every state line
 there's a new set of laws
 and every police man
 comes equipped with extended claws
 there's a thousand shades of white
 and a thousand shades of black
 but the same rule always applies
 smile pretty, and watch your back

 I'm in the middle of alabama
 they stare at me where ever I go
 I don't think they like my haircut
 I don't think they like my clothes
 I can't wait to get back to New York City
 where at least when I walk down the street
 nobody ever hesitates
 to tell me exactly what they think of me

 and every state line
 there's a new set of laws
 and every police man
 comes equipped with extended claws
 there's a thousand shades of white
 and a thousand shades of black
 but the same rule always applies
 smile pretty, and watch your back

 a little town in pennsylvania
 there was snow on the ground
 a parked in an empty lot
 where there was no one else around
 but I guess I was taking up too much space
 as I was trying to get some sleep
 'cause an officer came by anyway
 and told me I had to leave

 and every state line
 there's a new set of laws
 and every police man
 comes equipped with extended claws
 there's a thousand shades of white
 and a thousand shades of black
 but the same rule always applies
 smile pretty, and watch your back