Come to the door Ma, and unlock the I was just passin through, I got in the rain Theres nothing I want, that you need say Just let me lay for a while and Ill be on my way
I was no more a kid, when you put me on. the Southern Queen With the police on my back, I all the way down to New Orleans I fought in the dockyards, and with the I made I the fight was my home, and blood was my trade
Baton Rouge, Ponchitoula, and Lafayette Well, they paid me their money Ma, and I knocked the men I did I did, well it came easily Restraint and mercy Ma were always to me
I champion Jack Thompson, in a field full of mud The rain poured through the canvas tent,and with our blood In the twelfth I slipped my tongue, over my jaw and I stood him, I pounded his bloody body, right into the Well the bell rang and rang, and I kept on and on and on Till I felt my glove leather, slip between his skin and
the women and the money came fast and the days I lost track The women red, the green, but the numbers were black I fought for the men in silk suits, to lay down their bets I took my share Ma, ya see I, I have no regrets
Then I took the fix at the armory, with big John McDowell oh, From high in the rafters, I watched fall 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 back
So understand, in the end Ma, man plays the game If you know me one different, speak out his name Ma, if my voice now, now you recognize just open the door, and look into your dark eyes I ask of you nothin, not a kiss, not a smile, Just open the door and let me lay down for a
Now the gray is fallin, my ring fightins done So in the work fields and alleys,ya see I, I take all who If youre a better man me, then come on, and step up to the line, step right to the Show me your money , and out your crime
Now theres nothin I want Ma, nothin that you 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 off my shirt I him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man no can erase I move hard to the left, and I to the face