Come to the door Ma, and the chain I was passin through, I got caught in the rain Theres nothing I want, that you need say Just let me lay down for a and Ill be on my way
I was no than 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 the money 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 the men down I did what I did, well it came Restraint and mercy Ma were always to me
I fought champion Jack Thompson, in a 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 into the 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 fast and the days I track The women red, the green, but the numbers were black I for the men in their 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 state armory, big John McDowell oh, high in the rafters, I watched myself 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 looked back
So understand, in the end Ma, every man plays the If you know me one different, then speak out his 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 for a while
Now the gray rain is fallin, my ring done So in the fields and alleys,ya see I, I take all who come If a better 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, that you need say let me lay down for a while and Ill be on my way
Tonight in a shipyard, a man draws a circle in the I move to the center, and I take off my I him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man no can erase I hard to the left, and I strike to the face