[Verse 1]
Tell me what a young man, mama
What's he got to live for?
Tossed in the shuffle, child
Of everyday war

Searching for some trouble, Lord
Which I'm sure he will find
Spend your whole life fighting, son
Meet your dying time

[Pre-Chorus]
It's a shame, it's a shame, Lord
The trigger be his only friend
It's a shame, oh yeah
But it ain't never gonna end, no, that's right

[Chorus]
He's a pocketful of hate, don't give a damn
What fate awaits the machine gun man?
Well, he ain't got no future and he ain't got no plan
What fate awaits the machine gun man?
The machine gun man, yeah, step aside

[Solo]
[Verse 2]
Can't see tomorrow, Lord, I don't see today
Trail of confusion, Lord, done leading my way
Say the only thing worth killing, Lord, be killing time
Only soul worth saving now, mama, be saving mine

[Pre-Chorus]
It's a shame, it's a shame, Lord
The trigger be his only friend
It's a shame, oh yeah
But it ain't, never gonna end, that's right

[Chorus]
He's a pocketful of hate that don't give a damn
What fate awaits the machine gun man?
Well, he ain't got no future and he ain't got no plan
What fate awaits the machine gun man?

[Bridge]
He keeps shootin', oh mama
Like any old fool would do
Lord, the life he be leading
Ain't the one he had to choose

As he walks on out that door
Mama break down to cry
Oh, as she waves, the machine gun man
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
[Solo]
Yeah

[Chorus]
Yeah, he's a pocketful of hate, don't give a damn
Oh, what fate awaits the machine gun man?
Well, he ain't got no future, he ain't got a plan
What fate awaits the machine gun man?
The machine, yeah, gun man
The machine gun man, yeah