I was born in Chicago 1951 I was born in Chicago 1951 Well my daddy told me "Son, you had better get a gun." Well, my first friend went down Just 17 years of age Well, my first friend went down 17 years of age Well, there's one thing I say about that boy He got brave Well, my second friend went down When I was 21 years old Well, my second friend went down Just 21 years old Well, there's one thing I say about that boy He got bold Well, the blues is all right If there's someone left to play the game Now the blues is all right If there's someone left to play the game Well my friends have been going And everything just don't seem the same