Come to the door Ma, and unlock the I was just passin through, I got in the rain nothing I want, nothin that you need say Just let me lay down for a and Ill be on my way
I was no more than a kid, 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 money I I knew the was my home, and blood was my trade
Rouge, Ponchitoula, and Lafayette town Well, paid me their money Ma, and I knocked the men down I did what I did, it came easily Restraint and mercy Ma were strangers to me
I fought Jack Thompson, in a field full of mud The rain poured the canvas 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, into the floor Well the rang 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 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 share Ma, ya see I, I have no regrets
Then I took the fix at the state armory, with big McDowell oh, From in the rafters, I watched myself fall As they raised his arm my stomach twisted. and the sky it black I stuffed my bag with their good money ma, and I never looked
So understand, in the end Ma, man plays the game If you know me one different, speak out his name Ma, if my voice now, now you recognize Then just open the door, and into your dark eyes I ask of you nothin, not a kiss, not a smile, Just the door and let me lay down for a while
Now the rain is fallin, my ring fightins done So in the work and alleys,ya see I, I take all who come If a better man than me, then come on, and up to the line, step right to the line Show me your , and speak out your crime
Now theres nothin I Ma, nothin 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 time can I hard to the left, and I strike to the face