The Hitter

Come to the door Ma, and unlock the chain I was just passin through, I got caught in the rain Theres nothing I want, nothin that you need say Just let me lay down for a while and Ill be on my way I was no more 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 Orleans I fought in the dockyards, and with the money I made I knew the fight was my home, and blood was my trade Baton Rouge, Ponchitoula, and Lafayette town Well, they paid me their money Ma, and I knocked the men down I did what I did, well it came easily Restraint and mercy Ma were always strangers to me I fought champion Jack Thompson, in a field full of mud The rain poured through the canvas tent,and mixed with our blood In the twelfth I slipped my tongue, over my broken jaw and I stood over him, I pounded his bloody body, right into the floor Well the bell rang and rang, and still I kept on and on and on Till I felt my glove leather, slip between his skin and bone Then the women and the money came fast and the days I lost track The women red, the money green, but the numbers were black I fought for the men in their silk suits, to lay down their bets I took my good share Ma, ya see I, I have no regrets Then I took the fix at the state armory, with big John McDowell oh, From high in the rafters, I watched myself fall As they raised his arm my stomach twisted. and the sky it went black I stuffed my bag with their good money ma, and I never looked back So understand, in the end Ma, every man plays the game If you know me one different, then speak out his name Ma, if my voice now, now you dont recognize Then just open the door, and look into 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 while Now the gray rain is fallin, my ring fightins done So in the work fields and alleys,ya see I, I take all who come If youre a better man than me, then come on, and step up to the line, step right to the line Show me your money , and speak out your crime Now theres nothin I want Ma, nothin that you need say Just let me lay down for a while and Ill be on my way Tonight in a shipyard, a man draws a circle in the dirt I move to the center, and I take off my shirt I study him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man no time can erase I move hard to the left, and I strike to the face