Come to the door Ma, and the chain I was just passin through, I got caught in the nothing I want, nothin that you need say Just let me lay for a while and Ill be on my way
I was no more than a kid, you put me on. the Southern Queen With the on my back, I fled all the way down to New Orleans I fought in the dockyards, and the money I made I knew the was my home, and blood was my trade
Baton Rouge, Ponchitoula, and town Well, they paid me their money Ma, and I the men down I did what I did, it came easily Restraint and mercy Ma always strangers to me
I fought champion Thompson, in a field full of mud The poured through the canvas tent,and mixed with our blood In the twelfth I my tongue, over my broken jaw and I over him, I pounded his bloody body, right the floor Well the bell and rang, and still I kept on and on and on Till I felt my glove leather, slip between his and bone
Then the women and the money came and the days I lost track The women red, the money green, but the were black I fought for the men in their silk suits, to lay down bets I took my good Ma, ya see I, I have no regrets
Then I took the fix at the state armory, with big McDowell oh, From 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 good money ma, and I never looked back
So understand, in the end Ma, every man plays the If you know me one different, speak out his name Ma, if my now, now you dont recognize Then just open the door, and look into your dark I ask of you nothin, not a kiss, not a smile, Just open the door and let me lay down for a
Now the rain is fallin, my ring fightins done So in the work fields and alleys,ya see I, I take all who If youre a man than me, then come on, and up to the line, step right to the line Show me your money , and speak out 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 can erase I hard to the left, and I strike to the face