Jerry Reed
"You Make It, They Take It" lyrics

You Make It, They Take It

Income taxman is a knocking at my door
And yelling money, money
Income tax man's a yelling for some more
Money, money

Cause when you make it, they take it
You make it, they take it
You make it, they take
They take it
You make it, they take it
You make it, they take it

I was so happy just the other day
The boss man he give me a raise in my pay
But the income tax come
And took its part
And I didn't have no more
Than I did from the start

So, I worked like a slave
The whole year long
Trying to make enough to keep a living on
But I found that I'm lucky
If I make a cent
After tax comes out
For the government

Cause when you make it, they take it
You make it, they take it
You make it, they take
They take it
You make it, they take it
You make it, they take it

Years went by
And my hair turned grey
I knew it wasn't long
Before this boy pass away
So I went to the cemetery
Bought me a lot
And I had to pay tax
On the lot I got

Now to me that's a shame
And a sad disgrace
That a man will pay tax
On his resting place
Cause you don't live but once
So I don't see why
You gotta pay tax
Before you lay down and die

But when you make it, they take it
You make it, they take it
You make it, they take
They take it
You make it, they take it
You make it, they take it

Authors: Jerry Reed