Fisticuffs

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 in 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