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 more than a kid, when you put me on. the Queen the police on my back, I fled 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 Ma, and I knocked the men down I did what I did, well it came Restraint and mercy Ma were strangers to me
I champion Jack Thompson, in a field full of mud The rain poured through the canvas tent,and mixed 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 rang and rang, and still I kept on and on and on Till I felt my glove leather, slip his skin and bone
Then the women and the money came fast and the days I track The red, the money 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 twisted. and the sky it went black 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 now, now you dont 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 door and let me lay 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, then on, and up to the line, step right to the line Show me money , and speak out your crime
Now nothin I want Ma, nothin that you need say Just let me lay 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 off my shirt I him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man no time can I hard to the left, and I strike to the face