Killers

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 laughin', Lord, it seemed like a joke
Oh, oh
Oh, oh

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

They found me in Shreveport, just me and my knife
They cleaned off my blood, and they sent me to life
For 30 years, I lay awake in the night
Thinkin' 'bout the jungle and the blood and the fight
Oh, fight

Then in 2005, I was 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

Yesterday a young man came and stood at my feet
He asked me what I wanted, I said, "Somethin' to eat"
He said, "Killers with guns, they belong on the street"
I thought about that and I laughed 'til 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