Songtext Ellis unit one Steve Earle

Ellis unit one

I was fresh out of the service
It was back in 82
I raised some cain when I come back to town
I left to be all I could be
Come home without a clue
Now, I married dawn and had to settle down

So I hired on at the prison
Guess I always knew I would
Just like my dad and both my uncles done
And I worked on every cell block
Now, thingsre goin good
But then they transferred me to ellis unit one

Swing low
Swing low
Swing low and carry me home

Well, my daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls
And how they used to strap em in the chair
The kids down from the college and theyd bring their beer n all
n when the lights went out, a cheer rose in the air

Well, folks just got too civilized
Sparkys gatherin dust
cause no one wants to touch a smokin gun
And since they got the injection
They dont mind as much, I guess
They just put em down at ellis unit one

Swing low
Swing low
Swing low and carry me home

Well, Ive seen em fight like lions, boys
Ive seen em go like lambs
And Ive helped to drag em when they could not stand
And Ive heard their mamas cryin when they heard that big door slam
And Ive seen the victims family holdin hands

Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest
And something cold and black pullin through my lungs
n even jesus couldnt save me though I know he did his best
But he dont live on ellis unit one

Swing low
Swing low
Swing low and carry me home
Swing low
Dont let go
Swing low and carry me home