I speak to you, I think you'll understand
You know you've made your son Joseph a dangerous man
He's gone to town, he's bought himself a gun
This could happen to every mother's son

I spoke to Joseph, his time has come
"Vengeance is mine," he said, "Come join the fun"
He looked more like a Judas on the run
This could happen to every mother's son

Since I spoke to Joseph, he's gone into town
He killed six strong men 'fore they shot him down
I hate to think it's only just begun
This could happen to every mother's son

Something to tell you, I think you should know
You think too fast and you love too slow, you know
You needn't feel you're the only one
This could happen to every mother's son