Chain of Debt

[Verse 1] The landlord knocked at half past eight I hid behind the kitchen gate My pockets empty as a well The clock ticks loud, it tells the tale I pawned my pa's old pocket watch For a loaf of bread and a shot of scotch The radio sings of silver and gold I'm counting pennies in the cold [Chorus] Oh, the debt's a chain around my soul Every step I take, it takes its toll The letters pile up on the shelf I'm just a man buried in someone else's wealth Oh, the debt's a storm that won't let go I'm drowning slow, where the hard roads go I beg for grace, I beg for mercy's hand But the interest grows, and I can't stand [Verse 2] The kids ask why we can't go out I lie and say the sky's in doubt The phone rings off, it's the bank again I let it ring, I can't pretend I walk the streets, looking for work They say