I'm twenty-nine years old
But my trial was over quickly
'Cause I only killed one man
And then the long, hard wait began
Could you pull that switch yourself, sir
It's been so long since I left home
The court appointed lawyer
There's ninety-seven men here
I was born in Oklahoma
Hell, I didn't even make the papers
I knew I should be feeling something
Yeah and most of us are guilty
As the final hour drags by
The shot rang out like thunder
He lay face down on the floor
But I never shed tear one
So, when the preacher comes to get me
And then go home, tell yourself, sir
I won't stand here to tell you
Guess I'll never know what made me
Didn't mean to hurt nobody
Never thought I'd cross that line
My ears rang like a bell
Like I'd done a hundred times
I held up a filling station
I was born in Oklahoma
Name is Billy Austin
And who are you to say for sure?
And I believe I could'a run
The kid done like I told him
It's like I've always been in prison
Knowing Hell was waitin' there?
And they shave off all my hair
That I don't deserve to die
They took their time to get there
No one come runnin'
He just stood up and closed his briefcase
With a sure and steady hand
Could you take that long walk with me
Don't remember Oklahoma
Like I've always been alone
Now, my wait is over
So, I just called the cops myself
When they sentenced me to die
That you're better than I am
Couldn't look me in the eye
Mostly black, brown and all poor
I'll turn and walk back through that door
Quarter Cherokee, I'm told
