i've always kept myself well out of trouble
i've always kept my tongue inside my head
i've always kept a clean cut reputation
and the good book somewhere close beside my bed
but there's only one thing i want
when my time on this earth ends
a pair of dirty hands, oh lord
and a clean conscience
well everywhere i've been i've seen oppression
and everywhere i've been i've seen abuse
and everywhere i've been i've put a blind eye on the table
cos it never costs you anything to lose
but there's only one thing i want
when my time on this earth ends
a pair of dirty hands, oh lord
and a clean conscience
lay lay lay...
they said jesus shouldn't heal a man on sunday
he shouldn't eat with sinners and he shouldn't have fun
well some rules are just waiting to be broken, I guess
so i think it's time i started breaking some
but there's only one thing i want
when my time on this earth ends
a pair of dirty hands, oh lord
and a clean conscience