A wik-walking my way down that strange city street
I came upon my old school where they used to beat me down
With the roses and poses of those sad clowns
And their fake red noses
There on the asphalt behind the chain link fence
Was that greasy kid strutting in his Toughskin pants
I don't know why but he was holding my guitar and he give it a boot
Like he wanted to be a football star
I watched my six fly high up over the fence
So I turned on my starter and I did a little dance
Like I was Cris Carter in his last Superbowl ring chance
I dove and caught my six and quickly shuffled down the lane
Feeling like I'd gotten my fix of the pain
Was then that I first heard the refrain
As the man sang: You ain't never gonna get no farther

Well, there like an oasis in that sad city of angst
Was a tree-coddled stream with no banks
And I set down my guitar, took a drink and gave thanks
But just then I saw a stickball game being played with lead pipe
By some fierce looking brothers who were looking kinda like
(You know) They didn't care a whole lot for the white type
Well, well, the leader was sauntering toward me from across the creek
You know I looked right – left
You know I took a little peak
For a side exit with which off I could sneak
Just then a grocery getter came along (Delivering a pizza?) No man, a song
And these are the words that I remember right or wrong
He sang: You ain't never gonna get no farther

Well, there was a brown, round, kindly looking man in the front seat
As I opened up the back door to that strange taxi
And as we pulled away I began to feel at ease
He was some kind of spiritual brother
But fortunately, upon me, his gospel he did not smother
I could tell by his dashboard icons to him every religion was kinda the
same as any other
Well, he pulled the car over in a safer part of town
I went to my pocket for some money to kick down
He raised up his hand in refusal and did say:
"We are brothers in one, now get on your way"
And on the car radio that song did play
And as he drove away it did not fade away
The man sang: You ain't never gonna get no farther

So I left that city when I left my dream
Uncertain, you know, as to what it did mean
But every fence I pass as down the lanes I go
I journey through my life trying to get in the know
It doesn't matter if there's no radio for miles around
I still hear the song giving me the sound
Of a sermon that murmur when the sun's colors
are fading out and down
I raise up my hands and
Take heed of the plan
I don't understand
But here're those words again
The man, he sang:You ain't never gonna get no farther