Come to the Ma, and unlock the chain I was passin through, I got caught in the rain Theres nothing I want, nothin that you say Just let me lay for a while and Ill be on my way
I was no more than a kid, when you put me on. the Southern With the police on my back, I fled all the way to New Orleans I fought in the dockyards, and with the I made I knew the fight was my home, and was my trade
Baton Rouge, Ponchitoula, and town Well, they paid me money Ma, and I knocked the men down I did what I did, well it easily Restraint and mercy Ma were always to me
I fought Jack Thompson, in a field full of mud The rain through the canvas tent,and mixed with our blood In the twelfth I slipped my tongue, my broken jaw and I stood him, I pounded his bloody body, right into the Well the bell rang and rang, and I kept on and on and on Till I felt my leather, slip between his skin and bone
Then the women and the came fast and the days I lost track The women red, the green, but the numbers were black I fought for the men in 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, big John McDowell oh, From high in the rafters, I 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 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 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 all who come If youre a better man me, then come on, and step up to the line, step to the line Show me your money , and speak out crime
Now nothin I want Ma, nothin that 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 to the center, and I take off my shirt I him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man no can erase I hard to the left, and I strike to the face