Dead Man Walking movie - Ellis Unit One lyrics

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Song by Steve Earle<br /><br>

I was fresh out of the service <br>

It was back in ‘82 <br>

I raised some Cain when I come back to town <br>

I left to be all I could be <br>

Come home without a clue <br>

Now, I married Dawn and had to settle down <br>

So I hired on at the prison <br>

Guess I always knew I would <br>

Just like my dad and both my uncles done <br>

And I worked on every cell block <br>

Now, things're goin' good <br>

But then they transferred me to Ellis Unit One <br>

<br>

Swing low <br>

Swing low <br>

Swing low and carry me home <br>

<br>

Well, my daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls <br>

And how they used to strap ‘em in the chair <br>

The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer ‘n all <br>

‘N when the lights went out, a cheer rose in the air <br>

<br>

Well, folks just got too civilized <br>

Sparky's gatherin' dust <br>

‘Cause no one wants to touch a smokin' gun <br>

And since they got the injection <br>

They don't mind as much, I guess <br>

They just put ‘em down at Ellis Unit One <br>

<br>

Swing low <br>

Swing low <br>

Swing low and carry me home <br>

<br>

Well, I've seen ‘em fight like lions, boys <br>

I've seen 'em go like lambs <br>

And I've helped to drag ‘em when they could not stand <br>

And I've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam <br>

And I've seen the victim's family holdin' hands <br>

<br>

Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest <br>

And something cold and black pullin' through my lungs <br>

‘N even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best <br>

But he don't live on Ellis Unit One<br>

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