Come to the Ma, and unlock the chain I was just 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 fled all the way down to New 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, they paid me their money Ma, and I the men down I did what I did, it came easily Restraint and mercy Ma were strangers to me
I fought champion Jack Thompson, in a field 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 rang and rang, and I kept on and on and on Till I felt my glove leather, slip between his skin and
Then the women and the came fast and the days I lost track The women red, the money green, but the were black I for the men in their silk suits, to lay down their bets I my good share Ma, ya see I, I have no regrets
Then I took the fix at the state armory, with big John oh, From 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 never looked
So understand, in the end Ma, every man the game If you know me one different, then 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, open the door and let me lay down for a while
Now the gray is fallin, my ring fightins done So in the work and alleys,ya see I, I take 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 money , and speak out crime
Now theres nothin I want Ma, nothin you need say Just let me lay down for a and Ill be on my way
Tonight in a shipyard, a man a circle in the dirt I move to the center, and I take off my I him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man no can erase I move to the left, and I strike to the face