I was born in Chicago, 1941 I was born in Chicago in 1941 Well, my father told me "Son, you had better get a gun" Well, my first friend went down When I was 17 years old Oh, 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 Oh, 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 Everything's just don't seem the same Oh, things just don't seem the same, baby