Primus - Fisticuffs lyrics

They found James Ambrose dead in his cell
A gaping gash in his arm had
Drained him down to Hell
No one knew for sure if Ambrose was his name
They called him Yankee Sullivan in
Early days of fame

He'd known the game of fisticuffs
Had always treated him right
But no one knew the men who came
And took his life that night

He'd spent some time in Botany
Bay atoning for his sins
He fought a bout with Hammer Lane
And took a tainted win
He was the hero of the Bowery
A prince of lawless times
Then was battered by the "Butcherman" in 1849

He knew the game of fisticuffs
He knew the game of might
But no one knew the men who came
And took his life one night

He knew the game of fisticuffs
He knew the game of fisticuffs

Lilly and McCoy were shy of
A hundred and forty pounds
In 1842 they went a
Hundred and eighteen rounds
They begged McCoy to cash it in
He said that he would not
Got up and fought one more round
Then died right on the spot

He knew the game of fisticuffs
He knew the game of fight
But no one knew the game would come
And take his life that night

He knew the game of fisticuffs
He knew the game of fisticuffs