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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 |
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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? |
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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 |
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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 |
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A man deserves his pride |
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[Repeat] |
