El Tatuado

(Oh no way, I see it and I can't believe it)

After five years, we finally had him back
My oldest son who was locked up up north
We went to the airport to pick up our missing kid
Who, thanks to the gangs, was running with the wrong crowd

We had a little party all set up at home
So when he arrived, he could really let loose
Because we were so excited, we could hardly believe
That after so long, my son was about to come back

But when I saw my boy step off the plane
I barely recognized him, all scruffy and bald
But the worst was at home when I saw him naked
That’s when I really lost it seeing him all tattooed

Why’d you get tattooed?
Just because
Why’d you get inked?
Just because
Why’d you get marked up?
Just because
You really messed yourself up
You stupid fat ass

Why’d you get tattooed?
Just because
Why’d you get inked?
Just because
Why’d you get marked up?
Just because
You really messed yourself up
You stupid fat ass

On the back of his neck, an L and an A
And down on his throat, his mom's name
He had a cross painted on one of his arms
With the name of a friend who got shot down

Then he had another tattoo, two faces painted
One of them crying and the other just laughing
On the other arm, a colorful flag
And a lady in a sombrero with her tits hanging out

He’s all inked up, from elbow to wrist
He’s got a car, a skull, and an Aztec calendar
On his chest, it says Westside, I think that’s his hood
And also two hands together holding a rosary

He’s got some Chinese letters and a dragon’s head
Some dice and flames around the sacred heart
On his stomach, it says “crazy dude
On his back, my last name and a tear in his eye

Why’d you get tattooed?
Just because
Why’d you get inked?
Just because
Why’d you get marked up?
Just because
You really messed yourself up
You stupid fat ass

Why’d you get tattooed?
Just because
Why’d you get inked?
Just because
Why’d you get marked up?
Just because
You really messed yourself up
You stupid fat ass

Oh, oh, oh
That’s why people get sick
From those scares, those pains they put us through
Look at my boy, he came back more marked up
Than a wall in East Los Angeles
And I’m scared that with all those tattoos and those claws
A cop might mistake him for a, for a gangbanger

I asked him: Why’d you get all that ink? And he didn’t say a word
I feel like I wanna bathe him in pure hydrogen peroxide
I’m gonna soak him in bleach and scrub him with soap
Just look at all that ink, he looks like a chalkboard

And the gossip spreads like wildfire, those nosy people
Saying he’s more marked up than a bus station bathroom
Bus station
Don’t do that to your body

Come on, tell me what you see
You think you look good all covered in ink?
No matter how hard I try, kid, I just can’t understand you
It seems like you got tattooed even from over there

Why’d you get tattooed?
Just because
Why’d you get inked?
Just because
Why’d you get marked up?
Just because
You really messed yourself up
You stupid fat ass

Why’d you get tattooed?
Just because
Why’d you get inked?
Just because
Why’d you get marked up?
Just because
You really messed yourself up
You stupid fat ass