Tell me what a young man Mama

What's he got to live for

Tossed in the shuffle of everyday war

Searchin' for some trouble

Which I'm sure he will find

Spend your whole life fightin' son

Meet your dyin' time



It's a shame

It's a shame

The trigger be his only friend

It's a shame, oh yeh

But it ain't never gonna end



He's a pocketful of hate

That don't give a damn

What fate awaits the machine gun man?

Well, he ain't got no future

And he ain't got no plan

What fate awaits the machine gun man?



I can't see tomorrow

And I don't see today

Trail of confusion done leadin' my way

They say the only thing worth killin' Lord

Be killin' time

I say the only soul worth savin' now Mama

Resavin' mine



It's a shame

It's a shame

The trigger be his only friend

It's a shame, oh yeh

But it ain't never gonna end



He's a pocketful of hate

That don't give a damn

What fate awaits the machine gun man?

Well, he ain't got no future

And he ain't got no plan

What fate awaits the machine gun man?



He keeps shootin' mama like any old fool would do

Lord, the life he be leadin' ain't the one he has to choose

As he walks on out that door

Mama breaks down to cry

As she waves the machien gun man

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye...