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