YouLyric
Sign in
Sign up for free
Paul Crump
Share
Phil Ochs
What's this song about?
Generate meaning
1
Dm G
2
In the state of Illinois 'bout nine years ago
3
Dm C Bb A
4
A cold blooded killer he went against the law
5
Dm G
6
He killed a factory guard when his robbery did fail
7
Dm C G
8
And they caught him and they threw him in the jail.
9
He lay there in his cell locked up with his hate
10
Not many men knew of him and less cared for his fate.
11
And he knew no peace of mind when his trial was comin' by
12
The judge said, "You are guilty you must die."
13
Bb F
14
But Paul Crump is alive today
15
C F
16
He's a-sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say
17
Dm G
18
Every man has got something to give
19
C Am
20
And if a man can change, then a man should live.
21
They sent him to Cook County Jail, a jail known far and wide
22
Where pity was a stranger and brave men often cry.
23
They locked him in the death row to count the days before
24
To the day they came a knockin' at his door.
25
But another warden came along, Jack Johnson was his name;
26
He knew how prison living could drive a man to shame.
27
He had no need of pistols in a solitary cell
28
But a word of trust would help him just as well
29
But Paul Crump is alive today
30
He's a-sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say
31
Every man has got something to give
32
And if a man can change, then a man should live.
33
Between the warden and the convict a friendship slowly grew
34
And one learned from the other that a man can live anew.
35
Then the warden called the convict, "You must leave the devil's plan
36
"The time has come for you to be a man."
37
Then the convict found religion and he started him to learn
38
He wrote himself a novel called _Burn Killer Burn_.
39
And as his dying day grew near, to the warden he did cry
40
"You must pull the switch and I must die."
41
But Paul Crump is alive today
42
He's a-sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say
43
Every man has got something to give
44
And if a man can change, then a man should live.
45
It was up to Governor Kerner to keep him from the grave
46
Was rehabilitation a reason to be saved?
47
The hour was comin' closer, the word was spread around
48
A new and better answer must be found.
49
Well the electric chair was cheated, the convict didn't pay.
50
A new concept of justice was born and raised that day.
51
Now throughout this peaceful land there are others set to die
52
What better time than now to question why?
53
But Paul Crump is alive today
54
He's a-sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say
55
Every man has got something to give
56
And if a man can change, then a man should live.
29 views
0 meanings
Go Pro
Unlimited meanings ยท Priority generation
Upgrade