Billy Austin

My name is Billy Austin and I’m twenty-nine years old

I was born in Oklahoma quarter Cherokee I’m told

Don’t remember Oklahoma been so long since I left home

Seems like I’ve always been in prison like I’ve always been alon   e

Didn’t mean to hurt nobody never thought I’d cross that line

I held up a filling station like I’d done a hundred times

The kid done like I told him he lay face down on the floor

guess I’ll never know what made me turn and walk back through that doo   r

The shot rang out like thunder my ears rang like a bell

No one came runnin’ so I called the cops myse   lf

Took their time to get there and I guess I could’a run

I knew I should be feeling something but I never shed tear one

I didn’t even make the papers ’cause I only killed one man

but my trial was over quickly and then the long hard wait beg   an

Court appointed lawyer couldn’t look me in the eye

He just stood up and closed his briefcase when they sentenced me to die

Now my waitin’s over as the final hour drags by

I ain’t about to tell you that I don’t deserve to die

But there’s twenty-seven men here mostly black, brown and poor

Most of em are guilty who are you to say for sur   e?

So when the preacher comes to get me and they shave off all my hair

Could you take that long walk with me knowing hell is waitin’ ther   e?

Could you pull that switch yourself Sir, with a sure and steady hand?

Could you still tell youself, Sir, that you’re better than I am?

My name is Billy Austin I’m twenty-nine years old

I was born in Oklahoma quarter Cherokee I’m told