Down the Hall

I had the flu in the prison infirmary My last day I looked up and saw A man wheeled around the corner Down to skin and bones, that's all I asked the nurse where he was goin' She said, "Hospice down the hall He probably won't be in there long Any day we'll get the call" I asked if they let family in She said, "Not really at the end Truth is, a lot don't have someone No friends or next of kin" The thought of those guys goin' out alone It hit me somewhere deep I asked, could I go sit with 'em For some comfort and relief? Next thing you know, I'm on the ward Doin' things you can't believe Like shavin' Julio's bony head Crackin' him up when I wash his feet Oh well, I used to run when I saw Tyrone Knowin' your place's what it's all about And now he's here doubled up in pain Cancer eatin' him from the inside out I sit and wait outside his stall To help him when he's done Whatever shame we might have felt Well, all that's come undone Well, I can't undo the wrong I did Give back the life I took But maybe when it comes my turn I'll get a second look I don't know 'bout religion Only know what I see And in the end when I hold their hand It's both of us set free