[Verse 1]
I walked in early, paper in hand
Boots on the tiles, necktie man
He smiled too wide, said “Leave it here”
Then shut the door to my voting year
[Verse 2]
He fed me lines with a polished grin
Same old names in a different tin
Promised the road, promised the creek
Then took my mark like a thief in the week
[Pre-Chorus]
I know that look
I know that game
You shake my hand
Then lose my name
[Chorus]
Hands off my ballot, hands off my vote
You can’t buy the hunger in my throat
Hands off my ballot, let it be seen
This little mark is mine, not yours, not clean
[Verse 3]
At the pub they laughed, “Sure, that’s just life”
But the rent don’t care for a silver knife
The widow watched from the corner seat
Counting the lies like crumbs in the street
[Verse 4]
You came in holy with your paper crown
But you’d sell the hedges and burn the town
I’ve seen your suits and your soft-shoe talk
I’ve seen good work turn to a broken walk
[Pre-Chorus]
I know that look
I know that game
You shake my hand
Then lose my name
[Chorus]
Hands off my ballot, hands off my vote
You can’t buy the hunger in my throat
Hands off my ballot, let it be seen
This little mark is mine, not yours, not clean
[Bridge]
So pass me the lamp and open the book
Let every man in, let every woman look
If you want my trust, you’ll earn it slow
With clean hands up and nowhere to go
[Final Chorus]
Hands off my ballot, hands off my vote
You can’t buy the hunger in my throat
Hands off my ballot, let it be seen
This little mark is mine, not yours, not clean
Hands off my ballot, hands off my vote
I’ll drag your promise down the road
Hands off my ballot, hear me plain
We’ll come back brighter, and vote again