I was born on the sidewalk in a city I don’t know

In sixty-five I took arms and got on a boat

They told me to shoot wherever I saw smoke

I could not stop laughing lord it seemed like a joke.



In seventy-five, at twenty five I had me a son

And he died when he was young because of my gun

Left out in the open in a case I had to run

I could not believe it neither did anyone


They found me in Shreveport just me and a knife

They cleaned off my blood and they sent me to life

For thirty years I lay awake in the night

Thinking 'bout the jungle and blood and the fight


In two thousand five I was let out on the streets

A young fifty-five and now that’s where I sleep

I do my best workin’ with a cup and a sign

Askin’ folks please spare me some change or some time


Yesterday a young man stood at my feet

He asked what I wanted I said something to eat

He said killers with guns they belong on the street

I thought about that and I laughed till I cried

That's the best damn joke I’d heard in a long time

A very long time