Come to the door Ma, and unlock the I was passin through, I got caught 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 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 fight was my home, and blood was my
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 and mercy Ma were always strangers to me
I fought Jack Thompson, in a field full of mud The rain poured through the canvas tent,and mixed with our In the twelfth I slipped my tongue, my broken jaw and I stood over him, I his bloody body, right into the Well the bell rang and rang, and still I on and on and on Till I my glove leather, slip between his skin and bone
Then the women and the money came fast and the days I 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 good share Ma, ya see I, I no regrets
Then I took the fix at the armory, with big John McDowell oh, From high in the rafters, I watched 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 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 into your dark 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 fightins done So in the work fields and alleys,ya see I, I take all who If a better man than me, then come on, and step up to the line, step to the line Show me your money , and out your crime
Now theres nothin I want Ma, nothin you need say Just let me lay for a while 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 time can I move hard to the left, and I to the face