Ellis Unit One

I was fresh out of the service,
it was back in 82,
I raised some cane when I come back to town,
meant to be all I can be,
come home without a clue,
married Dawn & had to settle down

So I hired on at the prison,
guess I always knew I would,
just like my dad & both my uncles done,
And I worked on every cellblock,
now things were going good,
then they transfered me to Ellis Unit One.

Swing low, swing low,
swing low & carry me home.

Now my daddy used to talk about those long nights at the wall,
how they used to strap 'em in the chair,
and the kids down from the college,
yeah they'd bring their beer n'all,
when the lights went out a cheer rose in the air,
Yeah I guess folks got too civilised,
old sparkys gathrin' dust,
ane no one wants to touch a smoking gun,
they got injection now,
don't mind as much I guess,
just put 'em down on Ellis Unit One.

Swing low, swing low,
swing low & carry me home.

Yeah I've seen 'em fight like lions boys,
l've seen 'em go like lambs,
I've helped to drag 'em when they could not stand,
and I heard their mamas cryin',
when they heard that big door slam,
and I've seen the victims families holding hands.

Last night I dreamed I woke up,
with straps across my chest,
n' something cold & black pool through my lungs,
even Jesus couldn't save me,
thought I know he did his best,
but he don't live on Ellis Unit One.

Swing low, swing low,
swing low & carry me home.

Carry me home.