The Turtles — House of Pain

Wise men say That a poor mother's child Lives his life in vain If he doesn't visit, Lord The House of Pain At the age of four my mama done died My daddy started in drinkin' And he left me by An orphanage door Said "Get the rest of your life for thinkin', now" At the age of eight Thoughts filled my mind I had to run, had to run away And I met a bum by the name of Joe And he told me I could stay, now Now, Joe said "Earn your keep, boy! Man's gotta work for every meal!" And Joe, he taught me how to rob, Lord He taught me how to steal At age thirteen I was a restless lad And Joe said "Little drink can do you no harm" But by fifteen years a-drinkin' meant nothin' Compared to these holes in my arm Now, I'm not a violent man I can't stand killin' Without a reason to be done But when my friend Joe started stealin' my brandy Shot him with a second-hand gun People don't know What pain it is runnin' So even a man of thirty cries with tears But I've been livin' on crumbs and sterno Nigh under fifteen years My strength is gone, my eyes are closin' It's gettin' dark and oh, so cold But it's nice and warm In the place I'll be goin' to Will probably have me shovelin' coal, now So let it now be said That a man ain't been livin' That he spends life in vain 'Cause I spend thirty cold, windy, thirsty years Inside the House of Pain, now Inside the House of Pain Inside the House of Pain