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, sheґs fixinґ up some breakfast
Got the lights on, on the christmas tree
Sittinґ there, lookinґ up at an angel
With something dyinґ 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 itґs much worse than that
Maryanne, she takinґ 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 standinґ in line
Too many people with nothinґ planned
Thereґs too many people with
Empty hands

Now maryanneґs been cryinґ
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
Youґve got nothing but pain
Just makes a man not give a dammn
Thatґs no way for us to live
Weґve got to fill these empty hands

Chorus:
Across the cities
Across this land
Through the valleys
And across the sand
Too many people standinґ in line
Too many people with nothinґ planned
Thereґs too many people with
Empty hands

• Check It Out
• Cherry Bomb
• Down & Out in Paradise
• Empty Hands
• Hard Times for an Honest Man
• Hotdogs & Hamburgers
• Paper in Fire
• Rooty Toot Toot
• The Real Life
• We Are The People