Condemned Man

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Judge said, "Son, you better say your prayers
Got a noose that fits you and some gallow stairs
And by this time tomorrow you won't be alive
Soon we'll be giving you 10,000 volts"
And I said, "Make that twenty-five"

The firing squad have got me right in their sights
Got me strapped up tightly with some dynamite
And I hear the executioner has got a brand new kink
He's giving me cyanide to breathe and strychnine to drink

So dress me in chains and bind me in shackles
The last thing you'll hear is my cold-hearted cackle
The last thing you'll see is my twisted leer
I'm a condemned man and I'll never get out of here

The searchlight's sweeping up from the prison tower
The clock is creeping up to the midnight hour
Outside they're wailing, "Repent, repent, repent, and believe"
There's a telephone ringing but no chance of reprieve

All you straight-shooters and God-fearing dolts
Can be scared rigid by electrical volts
But I can't be killed by any regular means
Or I'll come back to haunt you and visit your dreams

So dress me in chains and bind me in shackles
The last thing you'll hear is my cold-hearted cackle
The last things I'll leave are my fondest regards
I'm a condemned man and they're dragging me these last few yards

Condemned Man
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello
Produced byT Bone Burnett
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Additional musicians unknown
RecordedFebruary-March 2010, Nashville, TN
SinglesNational Ransack, 2010

First known performance:
April 29, 2009, Bristol, England
Last known performance:
August 3, 2015, Camden, NJ
     (63 known performances)


National RansackNational Ransack album cover.jpg

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