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about

Capital punishment as a state sanction against murder makes a curious paradox: ‘Killing people is wrong, so we are going to kill you.’ Is that revenge, deterrence, or ritual killing? When the death sentence is imposed

lyrics

Billy Austin

Oh my name is Billy Austin, I'm 29 years old
I was born in Oklahoma, 1/4 Cherokee I'm told
I don't remember Oklahoma, it’s a long time since I've been home,
Seems I've always been in prison, seems I've always been alone.

I 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 did what I told him, he lay face down on the floor,
And I'll never know what made me turn & walk back through that door.

The shot rang out like thunder, and my ears rang like a bell,
No-one came a running, so I called the cops myself
They took their time to get there, and I guess I could have run,
I knew I should feel something, but I never shed tear, one.

I didn't read about it in the papers, cos I’d only killed one man,
But my trial was over quickly, and the long hard road began.
The court appointed lawyer couldn't look me in the eye
He just stood up and closed his briefcase as they sentenced me to die.

And now my wait is over, and the final hour drags by;
I ain't about to tell you that I don't deserve to die.
There's 27 men here, mostly brown or black or poor,
And most of us are guilty, but 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 waiting there?
Could you pull that switch yourself, sir, with a sure and steady hand?
Could you still tell yourself Sir, that you’re a better man?

Repeat 1st Verse.

credits

from Heavy Duty - Ballads of the Unfree, released February 1, 2018
song by Steve Earle

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about

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Bill Lloyd Kendal, UK

Bill Lloyd is a folk singer and multi-instrumentalist from the Lake District in northern England. He plays 5 string banjo and Galician gaita bagpipes, uilleann pipes and whistles, He is a versatile singer in the ‘high lonesome’ mountain style, delicate ballads, and ‘come-all-ye’ folk styles. Bill is an experienced storyteller, compere, music promoter, record producer and festival organiser. ... more

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