Come to the Ma, and unlock the chain I was just passin through, I got caught in the Theres nothing I want, nothin that you say Just let me lay down for a 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 fought in the dockyards, and with the I made I the fight was my home, and blood was my trade
Baton Rouge, Ponchitoula, and Lafayette Well, paid me their money Ma, and I knocked the men down I did what I did, well it came Restraint and mercy Ma always strangers to me
I fought champion Jack Thompson, in a full of mud The rain poured the canvas tent,and mixed with our blood In the twelfth I slipped my tongue, my broken jaw and I over him, I pounded his bloody body, into the floor Well the bell rang and rang, and I kept on and on and on Till I felt my glove leather, slip 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 numbers black I fought for the men in their suits, to lay down their bets I took my good share Ma, ya see I, I have no
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 stuffed my bag their good money ma, and I never looked back
So understand, in the end Ma, every man the game If you me one different, then speak out his name Ma, if my voice now, now you dont Then just open the door, and look your dark eyes I ask of you nothin, not a kiss, not a smile, open the door and let me lay down for a while
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 better man than me, come on, and up to the line, step right to the line Show me your money , and speak out your
Now theres nothin I want Ma, nothin you need say Just let me lay down for a and Ill be on my way
in a shipyard, a man draws 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 move hard to the left, and I strike to the