Asa Jones’ Blues

[Verse 1]
Asa's in the alley, pickin' pennies up off the ground
Boys behind the liquor store drop their money all around
He's on his hands and knees in the garbage and the snow
Pickin' up the pennies, buy him a 40 in the store

[Chorus]
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, lay 'em down, down, down
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down
You got Asa Jones' blues

[Verse 2]
Frank's behind the counter selling cigarettes and beer
Yelling out to Asa, get your fat ass outta here
You wanna get a drink, leave my customers alone
You want get drunk, gonna have to get there on your own

[Chorus]
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, lay 'em down, down, down
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down
You got Asa Jones' blues

[Verse 3]
Eddie's in his room with his head against the glass
Looks like the only survivor of a horrible plane crash
Weighs 90 pounds, wet or dry, has never shaved his face
Pays 60 bucks for his room, hardly ever leaves the place

[Chorus]
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, lay 'em down, down, down
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, boys
You got Asa Jones' blues

[Verse 4]
Earl lives underneath the porch of that ramshackle house
Like a billygoat gruff he'll come up to curse and shout
He wears a woman's coat that he got out of the trash
Pockets full of rags and socks stuffed with contraband

[Chorus]
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, lay 'em down, down, down
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, boys
You got Asa Jones' blues

[Verse 5]
Earl's behind the liquor store lookin' for money in the snow
Panhandlin' the patrons til' Frank comes out the door
Got a bat held in his hand and he lays it on Earl's head
Cursin' him out and then notices that he's dead

[Chorus]
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, lay 'em down, down, down
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, boys
You got Asa Jones' blues

[Verse 6]
Frank throws the body in the dumpster of a drugstore two doors down
Wipes the bat off with his shirt, sees nobody hangin' around
Back at the store he tells Asa to take a 40 on the house
Gives him the shirt off of his back and says now get out

[Chorus]
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, lay 'em down, down, down
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, boys
You got Asa Jones' blues

[Verse 7]
Police caught up with Asa about seven blocks away
Earl's blood on his shirt and he couldn't think of a thing to say
He took the bottle in his hand and he broke it on the ground
Waved it in the air and they laid big Asa down

[Chorus]
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, lay 'em down, down, down
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down, boys
You got Asa Jones' blues