Asa Jones' Blues
Well, Asa’s in the alley, looking’ for pennies on the ground
Them boys behind the liquor store throw their money all around
He’s on his hands and knees in the garbage and the snow
Pickin’ up the pennies, to buy him a 40 in the store

Lay ‘em down, lay ‘em down, down, down
Lay ‘em down
You got Asa Jones’ blues

Frank’s behind the counter selling cigarettes and beer
Yelling out to Asa, get your fat **** outta here
You wanna get a drink, leave my customers alone
You wanna get drunk, you got to get there on your own

Lay ‘em down, lay ‘em down, down, down
Lay ‘em down
You got Asa Jones’ blues

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
60 bucks a month for that room, he never leaves the place

Lay ‘em down, lay ‘em down, down, down
Lay ‘em down
You got Asa Jones’ blues

Earl lives underneath the porch of Eddie’ ramshackle house
Like a billygoat gruff he’ll come up to curse and shout
He wears a woman’s coat found in the trash
Pockets full of rags and socks and stuffed with contraband

Lay ‘em down, lay ‘em down, down, down
Lay ‘em down
You got Asa Jones’ blues
Well, Earl’s back in that alley lookin’ for pennies in the snow
Panhandlin’ the patrons til’ Frank comes out the door
Bat in his hand and he lays it on Earl’s head
He’s cursin’ him out and he beats him ’til he’s dead

Lay ‘em down, lay ‘em down, down, down
Lay ‘em down,
You got Asa Jones’ blues

Frank throws the body in the dumpster of a drugstore two doors down
And 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 “Son, get out”

Lay ‘em down, lay ‘em down, down, down
Lay ‘em down
You got Asa Jones’ blues

Police caught up with Asa 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

Lay ‘em down, lay ‘em down, down, down
Lay ‘em down
You got Asa Jones’ blues