I have known this preacherman

For a long time, he was a good man

I have known this judge

For a long time, he was a good man

I have known this teacher

For a long time, he was a good man too.

But because of the drugs

They've been taking secretly

Them are in loony houses today.

We cannot stand aside and look

While the nation is going down

the drain (x2)

Chorus:

Up with hope, down with dope (x3)

We cannot stand aside and look

While the nation is going down

the drain. We really really cannot

stand aside and look while the

nation is going down the drain

Oh Yo

I am telling you now

Cocaine, no good for you

Liquor, no good for you

You go sniffing them glue

No good for you

They give it to you and

say it's the sense of knowledge

But I've been around

For a while

I cannot stand aside

And look while the nation

Is going down the drain (x2)

Oh yo yo yo

Chorus:

Up with hope, down with dope (x3)