| I know I’ve seen this place before
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| Lord can’t you hear me screaming
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| As a young man long ago
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| When I was twenty-one
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| And I know I’ve seen this house before
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| With people all around it
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| With my baby cousin on the floor
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| And Mama in the kitchen
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| And a woman lies upon the bed
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| I think she must be dying
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| And I recall the words she said
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| As she began to cry
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| She begged son please don’t go to Baltimore
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| And leave me where I’m lying
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| For you will son but I no more
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| Walk among the living
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| And if you go to Baltimore
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| Then I’ll see you in heaven
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| And as you breathe I’ll breathe no more
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| And I will surely die
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| Well you know I went to Baltimore
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| So confident and wise
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| And as I breathed she breathed no more
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| And she did surely die
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| And now as I lie upon my bed
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| I pray I must be dreaming
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| With faces all around my head
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| And strangers at my door
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| And a woman’s voice calls out to me
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| Bring unto you your children
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| And let them see these things you see
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| And hear the words you say
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| Beg them to go to Baltimore
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| And leave you where you’re lying
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| Just like you did one time before
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| When you were twenty-one
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| And if they go to Baltimore
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| Then I’ll see you in heaven
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| And as they breathe you’ll breathe no more
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| And you will surely die
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| And I know I’ve seen this place before
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| Lord can’t you hear me screaming
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| And if I should awaken Lord
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| Then answer me my plea
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| What makes the sun set in the west
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| And birds fly in the sky
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| And what makes a woman beat her breast
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| When her children start to cry
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| And what makes those little ones grow old
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| To find eternity
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| And what takes the wise
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| And leaves behind
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| A foolish one like me |