The oats they’re feeding me: the poetic license of Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad

The lyrics to “Inside Looking Out” by the Animals, with the Grand Funk Railroad version in italics.

Sittin’ here lonely like a broken man
Sell my time and do the best I can
I wasn’t boss this around in me
I don’t want your sympathy, yeah

I’m sitting here lonely like a broken man.
I serve my time doin’ the best I can.
Walls and bars they surround me.
But, I don’t want no sympathy.

Oh baby, oh baby
I just need your tender lovin’
To keep me sane in this burnin’ oven
When my time is up, be my rebirth

No baby, no baby,
All I need is some tender lovin’.
To keep me sane in this burning oven.
And, when my time is up, you’ll be my reefer.

Like Adam’s work on God’s green earth
My rebirth, my rebirth
Baby, yeah it means my rebirth
Yeah

Life gets worse on God’s green earth.
Be my reefer, got to keep smokin’ that thing.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Baby baby baby
C’mon c’mon c’mon
Yeah yeah, c’mon, yeah yeah

I said now baby … baby …, let me smoke it … smoke it …
Makes me feel good … feel good, yes, I feel good … ahhhhh …
Yes, I feel alright … feel alright …, yes, I feel alright … feel alright …
Yes, I feel alright … Ahhhhh …
Ohhhhh …

Ice cold waters runnin’ in my brain
They drag me back to work again
Pains and blisters on my minds and my hands
From living daily with those canvas bags

Ice cold water is runnin’ through my veins.
They try and drag me back to work again.
Pain and blisters on my mind and hands.
I work all day making up burlap bags.

Thoughts of freedom they are drivin’ me wild
And I’ll by happy like a new born child
We’ll be together, girl, you wait and see
No more walls to keep your love from me

The oats they’re feeding me are driving me wild.
I feel unhappy like a new born child.
Now, when my time is up, you wait and see.
These walls and bars won’t keep that stuff from me.

Yeah, can’t you feel my love
Baby, baby, need you, squeeze you
No-body but, nobody but, you girl
I love you, need you

No, no, baby,
Won’t keep that stuff from me.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

All right
I said everything’s gonna be all right
And if you don’t believe what I say
Just listen baby and I’ll tell you

I need you right now mama.
I need you right now baby.
Right by my side, honey.
All night long.

Can’t you feel my love
Can’t you see my skill
Can’t you yell my love
It’s getting louder
It’s getting louder
A little closer, yeah

Make me feel alright …
Yes, all …, yes, all …, yes, all … alright

I said baby, I need you, c’mon, squeeze, please
Lord, I love you, I need you, yeah
Yeah, right by my side
I need you here by my side

You better come on up and get down with me.
I’ll make you feel real good, just you wait and see.

But I can’t help it baby
But, I’ll be home soon
I’ll be home soon, yeah
All right, whoa

Make me feel alright …, yes, I feel alright …
Yes, all …, yes, all …, yes, alright.

 Apparently if there was a lyric sheet, Mark Farner was too stoned to read it.

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