Come to the door Ma, and the chain I was passin through, I got caught in the rain nothing I want, nothin that you need say Just let me lay down for a and Ill be on my way
I was no more than a kid, you put me on. the Southern Queen the police on my back, I fled all the way down to New Orleans I fought in the dockyards, and with the money I I the fight was my home, and blood was my trade
Baton Rouge, Ponchitoula, and town Well, they paid me money Ma, and I knocked the men down I did I did, well it came easily Restraint and mercy Ma were strangers to me
I fought champion 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 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 and bone
Then the women and the money fast and the days I lost track The women red, the green, but the numbers were black I fought for the men in their suits, to lay down their bets I took my good share Ma, ya see I, I no regrets
Then I took the fix at the state armory, big John McDowell oh, high in the rafters, I watched myself fall As they raised his arm my twisted. and the sky it went black I stuffed my bag with their good money ma, and I never back
So understand, in the end Ma, every man the game If you know me one different, speak out his name Ma, if my voice now, now you recognize Then just open the door, and look your dark eyes I ask of you nothin, not a kiss, not a smile, Just the door and let me lay down for a while
Now the gray rain is fallin, my ring fightins So in the work fields and alleys,ya see I, I all who come If youre a better man me, then come on, and step up to the line, right to the line me your money , and speak out your crime
Now nothin I want Ma, nothin 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 off my shirt I him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man no time can I move to the left, and I strike to the face