Come to the door Ma, and the chain I was just passin through, I got caught in the Theres nothing I want, nothin that you say let me lay down for a while and Ill be on my way
I was no more than a kid, when you put me on. the Southern With the police on my back, I all the way down to New Orleans I in the dockyards, and with the money I made I knew the was my home, and blood was my trade
Baton Rouge, Ponchitoula, and town Well, paid me their money Ma, and I knocked the men down I did what I did, well it came and mercy Ma were always strangers to me
I fought Jack Thompson, in a field full of mud The rain through the canvas tent,and mixed with our blood In the I slipped my tongue, over my broken jaw and I stood over him, I pounded his body, right into the the bell rang and rang, and still I kept on and on and on Till I felt my glove leather, between his skin and bone
the women and the money came fast and the days I lost track The women red, the money green, but the numbers black I fought for the men in their silk suits, to lay down bets I took my share Ma, ya see I, I have no regrets
Then I took the fix at the state armory, with big John oh, From high in the rafters, I watched myself As they raised his arm my stomach twisted. and the sky it went I stuffed my bag with their good money ma, and I never looked
So understand, in the end Ma, every man plays the If you me one different, then speak out his name Ma, if my now, now you dont recognize Then just open the door, and look into dark eyes I ask of you nothin, not a kiss, not a smile, Just open the door and let me lay for a while
Now the gray rain is fallin, my ring done So in the work fields and alleys,ya see I, I all who come If youre a better man than me, come on, and step up to the line, step right to the me your money , and speak out your crime
Now theres nothin I want Ma, that you need say let me lay down for a while and Ill be on my way
Tonight in a shipyard, a man a circle in the dirt I move to the center, and I take off my I him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man no can erase I move hard to the left, and I to the face