The Defense

You see, ladies and gents, he did say reasonable doubt
Imagine all the guilt you could be leavin' here without
Now listen to my story and you'll know just what to do
This innocent man's life lays in the hands of all of you

A poor boy growin' up in southwest Texas
Mom's a whore and Daddy's dead and gone
He needs a way to let out all that anger
And suddenly he knows how to move on

Strike up a match
And smell the smoke
A few dead leaves is all it really took
The white and orange
She calls to him
He can create beauty on a whim

I think we all can tell where this is going
This nice young man seems to have lost his way
But after all that story can you blame him?
In his shoes wouldn't you have gone astray?

He took to catching freights down in Wyoming where he could
And making conversation with anyone that would
His habits turned to tamer things, like drinking, playing craps
Till one day something happens and this poor young man he snaps

Another man decides to test his patience
Pulls a gun on him in his motel
There wasn't another way to get away from him
So our guy, he decides to give him hell

He lights a match
And smells the smoke
The napkins on the counter are all it took
The white and orange
Didn't hurt no one
Especially when comparin' to a gun

Now this was just an ordinary relapse
Drunks and addicts have them all the time
What makes the defendant any different?
Why should he be convicted of a crime?

My client's better, going to therapy and taking meds
Moved to Washington, got an apartment, his own bed
Ain't a danger to a fly, let alone me or you
Imagine being him now tell me
Whatcha gonna do?