Steve Earle - Ellis Unit One Lyrics
I was fresh out of the serviceIt was back in 82I raised some cain when I come back to townI left to be all I could beCome home without a clueNow, I married dawn and had to settle downSo I hired on at the prisonGuess I always knew I wouldJust like my dad and both my uncles doneAnd I worked on every cell blockNow, thingsre goin goodBut then they transferred me to ellis unit oneSwing lowSwing lowSwing low and carry me homeWell, my daddy used to talk about them long nights at the wallsAnd how they used to strap em in the chairThe kids down from the college and theyd bring their beer n alln when the lights went out, a cheer rose in the airWell, folks just got too civilizedSparkys gatherin dustcause no one wants to touch a smokin gunAnd since they got the injectionThey dont mind as much, I guessThey just put em down at ellis unit oneSwing lowSwing lowSwing low and carry me homeWell, Ive seen em fight like lions, boysIve seen em go like lambsAnd Ive helped to drag em when they could not standAnd Ive heard their mamas cryin when they heard that big door slamAnd Ive seen the victims family holdin handsLast night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chestAnd something cold and black pullin through my lungsn even jesus couldnt save me though I know he did his bestBut he dont live on ellis unit oneSwing lowSwing lowSwing low and carry me homeSwing lowDont let goSwing low and carry me home
