RED RANSOM



Red Ransom, old red rover

It'll be over before long

I knowed you when you was a rover

But now your roving days are done



And walk, Old Ransom, walk around

Walk down the middle of the best street in town

And a woman, old woman, come along and stare old Ransom down

She walk like a lady grand

Don't steal my money, don't touch my hand

Just you keep your distance, you dirty old derelict man



And mama and papa walk along

They grab their little boy when they see Ransom

And they say, stay away from people that don't belong

And down on the playground to play

Old Ransom sad, watching little children all day

They call on the phone, Cop, make the old man go away



I've heard old Ransom claim

That he once was the hero of a baseball game

Crossed the ocean and won himself a boyhood fame

He had him money to spare

A house and a car and a lady fair

And a new suit of clothes that made all the ladies stare



But now old Ransom's poor

And he ain't got his house or his lady no more

And the years have shut down on him

like a cellar door

He's old and dirty and sad

He's lost everything that he ever has had

And they set the dogs on him 'cause they think he might

do something bad



@bum @age

by Bob Coltman

filename[ REDRANSM

SF

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