Come to the door Ma, and unlock the I was passin through, I got caught in the rain Theres nothing I want, that you need say let me lay down for a while 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 fled all the way down to New 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, paid me their money Ma, and I knocked the men down I did what I did, well it easily Restraint and mercy Ma were always to me
I fought champion Jack Thompson, in a full of mud The rain poured through the canvas tent,and mixed our blood In the twelfth I slipped my tongue, my broken jaw and I stood him, I pounded his bloody body, right the floor Well the bell rang and rang, and still I on and on and on I felt my glove leather, slip between his skin and bone
Then the women and the money fast 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 share Ma, ya see I, I no regrets
Then I took the fix at the armory, with big John McDowell oh, From high in the rafters, I myself fall As they his arm my stomach twisted. and the sky it went black I my bag with their good money ma, and I never looked back
So understand, in the end Ma, every man plays the If you know me one different, then out his name Ma, if my voice now, now you recognize Then just open the door, and look into your dark 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 fightins done So in the work fields and alleys,ya see I, I all who come If youre a better man than me, then on, and step up to the line, right to the line Show me your , and speak out your crime
Now theres nothin I want Ma, nothin that you say Just let me lay down for a and Ill be on my way
Tonight in a shipyard, a man draws a in the dirt I to the center, and I take 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