Come to the door Ma, and the chain I was just passin through, I got in the rain Theres I want, nothin that you need say let me lay down for a while and Ill be on my way
I was no more a kid, when you put me on. the Southern Queen 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 knew the was my home, and blood was my trade
Baton Rouge, Ponchitoula, and town Well, they paid me their money Ma, and I knocked the men I did I did, well it came easily Restraint and mercy Ma always strangers to me
I fought champion Thompson, in a field full of mud The rain poured through the 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 and rang, and still I kept on and on and on Till I felt my glove leather, between his skin and bone
Then the women and the money came fast and the days I lost The women red, the money green, but the numbers black I fought for the men in their silk suits, to lay their bets I took my good share Ma, ya see I, I have no
Then I took the fix at the state armory, with big McDowell oh, From high in the rafters, I watched fall As they raised his arm my stomach twisted. and the sky it black I stuffed my bag with their money ma, and I never looked back
So understand, in the end Ma, every man plays the If you know me one different, speak out his name Ma, if my voice now, now you 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 down for a
Now the gray rain is fallin, my ring fightins So in the work fields and alleys,ya see I, I all who come If youre a better man than me, come on, and step up to the line, step to the line Show me your , and speak out your crime
Now theres nothin I want Ma, nothin that you say let me lay down for a while 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 time can I hard to the left, and I strike to the face