My name is billy austin 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 alone 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 door The shot rang out like thunder My ears rang like a bell No one came runnin' So I called the cops myself 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 began 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 sure? 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' there Could you pull that switch yourself sir With a sure and steady hand Could you still tell youself 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
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