i got pulled over in west texas   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 clause   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 clause   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 clause   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   i 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 clause   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