I'm Scratching Peace Symbols in Your Tombstone (1969)
First they made him sleep in the closet (x2) Then they made him sleep out in the hall When I got a little bit older They made me sleep against the wall Then, I was so young and tender But now I’m oh, so big and hard Now that I’m a little bit older I got’s ta sleep’s in ma backyard (Family) When he was just about three All the girls would drive to see Who could hold him on their knee But now its plain to see Now that he’s big and hard He’s got to stay in the back yard He had a job and got fired Slept on the ground so hard And I’m so sure some day Some pretty girl will come his way And then his mama will say, “Boy, with girls, you don’t play!” And it’s so plain to see What his mama wants him to be Locked up and not to be free To play with you and me Now I sleep out in the graveyard Seems my mama up and died And now I just lay around her tombstone Scratching peace symbols in the si de.
(Chorus) I’m scratching peace symbols in your tombstone I’m scratching peace symbols in your mind I’d like to know how’d you get there (x2) Can’t you hear, oh can’t you hear up here, as I’m
(repeat chorus)
The only thing you know is what they told you The only thing you know is what they said And showed you by the ashes That all that was true and real is dead, but I’m
(repeat chorus (variation))
I’d like to know how’d you get here I’d like to know, I’d like to know how’d you get here My mama told me just what she said Stay away from girls and my bed But the woman with the thoughts is all dead Cause there’s a cloud of lead in our head I’m scratchin’ / tombstone I’m scratching / mind