Come to the door Ma, and the chain I was just passin through, I got caught in the Theres nothing I want, that you need 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 on my back, I fled all the way down to New Orleans I in the dockyards, and with the money I made I knew the fight was my home, and blood was my
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 and mercy Ma were always strangers to me
I fought Jack Thompson, in a field full of mud The rain poured through the tent,and mixed with our blood In the I slipped my tongue, over my broken jaw and I stood him, I pounded his bloody body, right the floor Well the bell rang and rang, and I kept on and on and on Till I my glove leather, slip between his skin and bone
Then the women and the money came fast and the days I lost The women red, the green, but the numbers were black I fought for the men in their silk suits, to lay down their I took my share Ma, ya see I, I have no regrets
Then I the fix at the state armory, with big John McDowell oh, From in the rafters, I watched myself fall As they raised his arm my stomach twisted. and the sky it black I stuffed my bag with their money ma, and I never looked 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 Then just open the door, and look your dark eyes I ask of you nothin, not a kiss, not a smile, Just open the and let me lay down 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 man than me, then come on, and step up to the line, right to the line Show me your money , and out your crime
Now theres nothin I want Ma, nothin you need say let me lay down for a while and Ill be on my way
Tonight in a shipyard, a man draws a in the dirt I move to the center, and I take off my I him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man no time can I move hard to the left, and I strike to the