[Verse 1]
I was born on a sidewalk in a city I don't know
In '65 I took arms and got on a boat
They told me to shoot at wherever I saw smoke
I could not stop laughing, Lord, it seemed like a joke
Oh, oh
Oh, oh

[Verse 2]
In '75 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 case I had to run
I could not believe it, neither did anyone
Oh, oh
Oh, oh

[Verse 3]
They found me in Shreveport, just me and my knife
They cleaned off my blood and they sent me to life
For thirty years I lay awake in the night
Thinkin' 'bout the jungle and blood and the fight
Oh, fight

[Verse 4]
Then in 2005, I's let out on the street
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 some change or some time
Or some time
Oh, some time
[Verse 5]
Yesterday a young man came and stood at my feet
He asked me 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
Well, a very long time, time, time
A very long time

Lord, a very long time
A very long time
A very long time