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
He was a crazy little child New Orleans Alley playground Grimy faced He watched the hookers cry Winos were his friends And when he talked to them They said, "Jackson, boy, they'll get you by and by"
Depression settin' in Desp'rate, cool and quick Jackson learned the ropes out on the street Little candy stores Just pickin' locks and doors Was practice for a two bit petty thief
So Jackson went to Ritz And ev'ryone 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"
He was a crazy little child New Orleans Alley playground And grimy faced He watched the hookers cry, whoo Winos were his friends And when he talked to them They said, "Jackson, boy, they'll get you by and by," that's right
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 unspectin' guys And they left poor Jackson inside
Questions there were few In fact there were none When those Sheriff's bullets start to fly Lay dying on the floor With a smokin' forty four He said, "I must admit the winos were right"
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, I must admit the winos were right Oh, I must admit the winos were right Yes, his last words were I must admit the winos we-ere ri-ight