Mott The Hoople: It Takes One To Know One

(Dale Griffin)

Well, didya ever get the feelin' that the world ain't right?
Like when you're standing in the dance-hall someone picks a fight
He says, "Hey, c'mere long-hair I saw ya lookin' at my chick!"
You gotta get away quick
And as you turn to make a run he throws a punch at your head
You know you gotta make the exit or you're gonna be dead
But when you finally hit the sidewalk you can tell that you ain't going too far

'Cos someone stole your car
And it's the same play, each day, can't pay, no way
They gotcha in a hole y'know.
It's the same old reason and the same old rhyme,
And the snakes are out to bite you everytime
But not me babe
It takes one to know one,
It takes one to know one,
It takes one to know one,
And I know you!

You know I tried to call my baby, tried to make a date,
She said, "I'm awful sorry, honey, but you called too late,
Y'see I've gotta drive my Daddy to a meeting of the P.T.A.,
I can't come out to play!"
So then I took me off downtown and met this chick in a bar
She took me back to her apartment in her Jaguar,
But when we started rockin' she threw me straight outta the door,
There oughta be a law
And it's the same play, each day, can't pay, there's no way
You're gonna get a break, y'know
It's the same old reason and the same old rhyme,
She says she's got the feelin' but she ain't got the time,
Don't gimme that jive, babe
It takes one to know one
And I know you!

Well now it's Saturday night and I just got laid,
But there's a shadow in the alley still gotta be paid.
I heard it's tough at the top, but it sure looks good from the floor
They won't let you score.
Every day it's getting rougher and it's hard to survive
When there's a lotta people round don't wanna see you alive,
They wanna take you to the cleaners, and leave you in the gutter to bleed
When they've got all they need.
And it's the same old reason and the same old rhyme,
And the man still wants your life on the dotted line,
But I got wise, babe
It takes one to know one
And I Know You (all of you).