They called him Benny Kid Perret
You might recall his name
He had a fine strong body
Chopping down the sugar cane
His hands were quick
His muscles hard
And many men did fall
They said that he was soon to be
The champion of them all
One Saturday night not long ago
You might remember when
The people came from miles around
To see him fight again
The dusty smoke hung in the air
The time was drawn
And near
He climbed the ropes
And waved his hands
The people laid a chair
Eleven rounds
They fought that night
But it was a losing game
He bit into his mouthpiece
And he couldn't stop the pain
His head fell back
His eyes went blind
He lost the final hope
And they said
They hanged a Cuban boy that night
Upon a cross of rope
There's danger on your oceans
Where the waves roll mountain high
There's danger on your battlefields
Where the angry bullets fly
There's danger in the boxing ring
Death is waiting there
Just a-watching for a man
For a killin'
Through the hot and smoky air
I've walked your streets and alleys
I've seen fighters in my time
Some was beatin' crazy in the brain
Some was beatin' blind
And Benny's not the first to die
Down on the canvas floor
Many brave men have swallowed
Their last breaths
While the crowd was in shock
They just screamed for more
You've heard about your Romans
Long, many years ago
Crowding the big arenas
Just to see the slaves' blood flow
Things have changed a lot
Since those days
Now we're civilized
Our gladiators
They kill with gloves
Instead of swords
And knives
His name was Benny Kid Perrette
Up from the Cuban land
He once knew fame and glory
But now his name is carved in sand
His hands was quick
His muscles hard
Many men did fall
He never stopped
Till he became the champion
Of them all
© transcript Emily Beynon