In the shadows of the smokestacks
through the black snow, that lay on the land
walked home one winter morning
with my live 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 takin� in some laundry
i got a part time job in a drive-in stand
oh lord, what did i do
to deserve these empty hands?
Chorus:
across the cities
across this land
through the valleys
and across the sand
too 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 dammn
that�s no way for us to live
we�ve got to fill these empty hands
Chorus:
across the cities
across this land
through the valleys
and across the sand
too many people standin� in line
too many people with nothin� planned
there�s too many people with
empty hands