Billy Austin

[Verse 1]

My name is Billy Austin

I'm twenty-nine years old

I was born in Oklahoma

A quarter Cherokee, I am told

Don't remember Oklahoma

It's been so long since I left home

Seem like I've always been in prison

Like I've always been alone

[Verse 2]

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

And he lay face down on the floor

Guess I'll never know what made me

Turn and walk back through that door

[Verse 3]

The shot rang out like thunder

My ears rang like a bell

No one came running

So I called the cops myself

Took their time to get there

And I guess I could've run

I knew I should be feeling something

But I never shed tear one

[Verse 4]

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 began

The court-appointed lawyer

Couldn't look me in the eye

He just stood up, closed his briefcase

When they sentenced me to die

[Verse 5]

And now my waiting's over

As the final hour drags by

I ain't about to tell you

That I don't deserve to die

There's twenty-seven men here

Mostly black and brown and poor

Most of them are guilty

But who are you to say for sure?

[Verse 6]

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 waiting there?

Could you pull that switch yourself, sir

With a sure, steady hand?

Could you still tell yourself, sir

That you're better than I am?

[Outro]

My name is Billy Austin

I'm twenty-nine years old

I was born in Oklahoma

Quarter Cherokee, I'm told