[Verse 1]
Crazy little child never got to see
All the pretty things in life
Had him put away, nothing they could say
Could ever make the pieces fit
Aw well, Daddy-o was rich, mama was a bitch
Living wasn't easy in between
Behind his silent scream, Jackson in his teens
Was planning his escape
[Chorus]
He was a crazy little child
New Orleans Alley playground
Grimy-faced, he watched the hookers cry
Aw, winos were his friends, and when he talked to them
They said, "Jackson, boy, they'll get you by and by"
[Verse 2]
Depression settin' in, desperate, cool and quick
And Jackson learned the ropes out on the street
Little candy stores, just pickin' locks and doors
Was practice for a two bit petty thief
[Verse 3]
So Jackson went to Ritz and everyone was hip
Ritz ran all the rackets there in town
"If you need another boy, a trigger or a blade
Well, I'm the slickest cat around"
Yeah, Ritz gave him the eye, once over, then he smiled
"Yeah, I've got something here in mind
If you meet me here at two, I think you'll like the view
Of that long green when you crack that safe tonight"
[Chorus]
He was a crazy little child
New Orleans Alley playground
And grimy-faced, he watched the hookers cry, ooh
Winos were his friends, and when he talked to them
They said, "Jackson, boy, they'll get you by and by," that's right
[Verse 4]
Well, I'll wait for you outside and I'll be your ears and your eyes
And boy, you just slip in there and bring out all that loot
But Ritz was taken by surprise, couple of unsuspectin' guys
And they left poor Jackson inside
[Bridge]
Questions, there were few
In fact there were none
When those sheriff bullets start to fly
Lay dying on the floor with a smokin' .44
He said, "I must admit the winos were right"
[Verse 5]
Crazy little child never got to see
All the pretty things in life
We buried him today, nothing we could say
Could ever make the pieces fit, yeah
[Outro]
I must admit the winos were right, oh
I must admit the winos were right, yes, that's what I said
I must admit the winos were right