| No one knows exactly where he came from
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| It wassomewhere in arkansaw
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| Grew up flat broke with no education
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| Had his run-ins with the law
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| His fists became his passport out of hell
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| When some guys saw he used them pretty well
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| They’d found something to sell
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| But Sonny tell me
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| When you were young you had to fight
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| Became the champion
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| And you were walkin' dynamite
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| Prayed on their fears
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| Though quite sincere
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| They wouldn’t let you change
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| Oh can’t you tell me?
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| Flying back to philly in the morning
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| With the belt stashed in his bag
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| He talked of how the whole world would treat him better
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| Now he was the champ
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| Said he’d like to give a little break
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| But no-one listens toa despised black
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| Except a well-worn hack
|
| But Sonny tell me
|
| When you were young you had to fight
|
| Became the champion
|
| And you were walkin' dynamite
|
| Prayed on their fears
|
| Though quite sincere
|
| They wouldn’t let you change
|
| Oh can’t you tell me?
|
| Minds made up and ears closed against you
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| You just couldn’t understand
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| You’d made them rich, yeah you’d entertained them
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| You were still a hated man
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| It seemed like they had used you as their clown
|
| But never let the bastards grind you down
|
| But Sonny tell me
|
| When you were young you had to fight
|
| Became the champion
|
| And you were walkin' dynamite
|
| Prayed on their fears
|
| Though quite sincere
|
| They wouldn’t let you change
|
| Oh can’t you tell me?
|
| But Sonny tell me
|
| When you were young you had to fight
|
| Became the champion
|
| And you were walkin' dynamite
|
| Prayed on their fears
|
| Though quite sincere
|
| They wouldn’t let you change
|
| Oh can’t you tell me?
|
| A man deserves his dignity
|
| A man deserves his pride |