born in chicago

I was born in Chicago in nineteen and forty-one
I was born in Chicago in 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 seventeen years old
Well, my first friend went down when I was seventeen years old
Well, there's one thing I could say about that boy, "He died bold"

Well, my second friend went down when I was twenty one years, baby
Well, my second friend went down when I was twenty one years, baby
Well, there's one thing I could say about that boy, "He died brave"

Well, my blues are alright if there's someone left to play the game
Well, my blues are alright if there's someone left to play the game
All my friends are going and these years don't seem the same
Oh, they just don't seem the same, baby