Tell me what a young man, mama, what's he got to live for Tossed in the shuffles of everyday war Searchin' for some trouble, Lord, 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, Lord The trigger be his only friend It's a shame, oh yeah But it ain't never gonna end, no, that's right 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? The machine gun man, yeah I can't see tomorrow and I don't see today Trail of confusion, Lord, done leadin' my way They say the only thing worth killin', Lord, be killin' time Only soul worth savin' now, mama, be a re-savin' mine It's a shame, it's a shame, Lord The trigger be his only friend It's a shame, oh yeah But it ain't never gonna end, that's right 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', oh mama Like any old fool would do Lord, the life he be leadin' Ain't the one he had to choose As he walks on out that door Mama breaks down to cry Oh, as she waves the machine gun man Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye Yeah, he's a pocketful of hate that don't give a damn Oh, 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? The machine, yeah, gun man, the machine-gun man, yeah, oh yeah