3/4 | G/ (320003@1)/ | G/ (320003@1)/ | G/ (320003@1)/| G/ (320003@1)/ | G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GCome (320003@1)to the door, Ma, and unlock the chain CI (x32010@1)was just passin' through and got caught in the rain GThere's (320003@1)nothin' I want, nothin' that you need say D (xx0232@1) GJust (320003@1)let me lie down for a while and I'll be on my way G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) G (320003@1)I was no more than a kid when you put me on the Southern Queen CWith (x32010@1)the police on my back I fled to New Orleans GI (320003@1)fought in the dockyards and with the money I made D (xx0232@1) GI (320003@1)knew the fight was my home and blood was my trade G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GBaton (320003@1)Rouge, Poncitoula, and Lafayette town CWell (x32010@1)they paid me their money, Ma, I knocked the men down GI (320003@1)did what I did well it come easily D (xx0232@1) G| (320003@1)Restraint and mercy, Ma, were always strangers to me HARP SOLO | G| (320003@1)G| (320003@1)G| (320003@1)C|C (x32010@1)| Em| (022000@1)Em| (022000@1)G| (320003@1)C| (x32010@1)C| (x32010@1)C| (x32010@1)G| (320003@1)G| (320003@1)G| (320003@1)G (320003@1) G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GI (320003@1)fought champion Jack Thompson in a field full of mud CRain (x32010@1)poured through the tent to the canvas and mixed with our blood GIn (320003@1)the twelfth I slipped my tongue over my broken jaw CI (x32010@1)stood over him and pounded his bloody body into the floor GWell (320003@1)the bell rang and rang and still I kept on D (xx0232@1) G'Till (320003@1)I felt my glove leather slip 'tween his skin and bone G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GThen (320003@1)the women and the money came fast and the days I lost track CThe (x32010@1)women red, the money green, but the numbers were black GI (320003@1)fought for the men in their silk suits to lay down their bets D (xx0232@1) GI (320003@1)took my good share, Ma, I have no regrets G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GThen (320003@1)I took the fix at the state armory with big John McDowell CFrom (x32010@1)high in the rafters I watched myself fall G (320003@1)As he raised his arm my stomach twisted and the sky it went black D (xx0232@1) GI (320003@1)stuffed my bag with their good money and I never looked back C (x32010@1) GUnderstand, (320003@1)in the end, Ma, every man plays the game D (xx0232@1) GIf (320003@1)you know me one different then speak out his name CMa (x32010@1)if my voice now you don't recognize G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GThen (320003@1)just open the door and look into your dark eyes CI (x32010@1)ask of you nothin', not a kiss not a smile, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GJust (320003@1)open the door and let me lie down for a while G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GNow (320003@1)the gray rain's fallin' and my ring fightin's done CSo (x32010@1)in the work fields and alleys I take all who'll come GIf (320003@1)you're a better man than me then just step to the line CShow (x32010@1)me your money and speak out your crime GNow (320003@1)there's nothin' I want, Ma, nothin' that you need say D (xx0232@1) GJust (320003@1)let me lie down for a while and I'll be on my way GTonight (320003@1)in the shipyard a man draws a circle in the dirt CI (x32010@1)move to the center and I take off my shirt GI (320003@1)study him for the cuts, the scars, the pain, Man, nor time can erase D (xx0232@1) C (x32010@1) GI (320003@1)move hard to the left and I strike to the face
