I was born in Chicago at nineteen and forty-one
I was born in Chicago at nineteen and forty-one
Well, my father told me
"Son, you had better get a gun"

Well, my first friend went down
When I was 17 years old
Well, my first friend went down
When I was 17 years old

Well, there's one thing I can say about that boy
He gotta go

Well, my second friend went down
When I was 21 years of age
Well, my second friend went down
When I was 21 years of age

Well, there's one thing I can say about that boy
He gotta pray

Well, now rules are alright
If there's someone left to play the game
Well, now rules are alright
If there's someone left to play the game

All my friends are going
And thing's just don't seem the same
Oh, thing's just don't seem the same, babe