Fisticuffs - Primus

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

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