Tell me what a young man Mama What's he got to live for Tossed in the shuffle of everyday war Searchin' for some trouble Which I'm sure he will find Spend your whole life fightin' son Meet your dyin' time It's a shame It's a shame The trigger be his only friend It's a shame, oh yeh But it ain't never gonna end He's a pocketful of hate That don't give a damn What fate awaits the machine gun man? Well, he ain't got no future And he ain't got no plan What fate awaits the machine gun man? I can't see tomorrow And I don't see today Trail of confusion done leadin' my way They say the only thing worth killin' Lord Be killin' time I say the only soul worth savin' now Mama Resavin' mine It's a shame It's a shame The trigger be his only friend It's a shame, oh yeh But it ain't never gonna end He's a pocketful of hate That don't give a damn What fate awaits the machine gun man? Well, he ain't got no future And he ain't got no plan What fate awaits the machine gun man? He keeps shootin' mama like any old fool would do Lord, the life he be leadin' ain't the one he has to choose As he walks on out that door Mama breaks down to cry As she waves the machine gun man Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye...