Empty Hands — текст песни (John Mellencamp)

In the shadows of the smokestacks
Through the black snow that lay on the land
Walked home one winter morning
With my life`s savings in my hand
Maryanne, she`s 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 it`s much worse than that
Maryanne she`s takin` in some laundry
I got a part-time job at a drive-in stand
Oh Lord, what did I do
To deserve these empty hands

Across the cities, across this land
Through the valleys, and across the sand
To many people standin` in line
Too many people with nothin` planned
There`s too many people with empty hands

Now Maryanne`s 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, you`ve got nothing but pain
Just makes a man not give a damn
That`s no way for us to live
We`ve got to fill these empty hands