Prison Trilogy Billy Rose
Joan Baez
Ton : G
BiGlly Rose was a lowG/B rider Billy Rose was a night fighter
BiAmlly RosCe knew tBmrouble lDike the sound of his own name
BuAmsted on a drunken charge
DrCiving someone else's car
The Cmlocal midnight sheriff's Gclaim to fame
IGn an ArizonG/Ba jail there are some who tell the tale how
BiAmlly fougCht the sBmergeantD for some milk that he demanded
KAmnowing they'd remain the boss
KCnowing he would pay the cost
TheyCm saw he was seveGrely reprimanded
In theEm blackesBmt cell on A Block
HeEm hanged hBmimself at dawn
With aEm note stuBmck to the bunk head
Don't Ammess with me just Dtake me home
CoEmme andD lay help us lay
youGng Billy down
LuGna was a MexiG/Bcan the law calls an alien
For Amcoming acCrossBm the borderD with a baby and a wife
ThAmough the clothes upon his back were wet
StCill he thought that he could get
Some Cmmoney and things toG start a life
It Ghadn't been too very longG/B when it seemed like everything went wrong
TheyAm didn'Ct even hBmave the tDime to find themselves a home
This Amforeigner a brown-skin male
ThCrown inside a Texas jail
ItCm left the wife and baGby quite alone
He Emeased thBme pain inside him
With a EmneedlBme in his arm
But the Emdope jBmust crucified him
He Amdied to no one'Ds great alarm
Come andEm lay Dhelp us lay
YoGung Luna down
And we'Emre gonnDa raze raze the prisons
To the gGround
KiGlowatt was an agingG/B con of 65 who stooAmd a chance to stay alive
And lCeave the jBmoint and Dwalk the streets again
AAms the time he was to leave drew near
He Csuffered all the joy and fear
Of Cmleaving 35 yearGs in the pen
AndG on the day of his rG/Belease he was approached by the police
Who Amtook hiCm to tBmhe waDrden walking slowly by his side
The Amwarden said "You won't remain here
BCut it seems a state retainer
CCmlaims another 10 years oGf your life."
He sEmtepped out in tBmhe Texas sunlight
TheEm cops aBmll stood around
Old EmKilowBmatt ran 50 yards
Then Amthrew himself downD on the ground
They Emmight Das well just have laid
TheG old man down
And we'Emre gonDna raze raze the prisons
To the gGround
Help us Emraze rDaze the prisons
To the Gground