Walking Down Death Row

Walkin' down death row
I sang for three men destined for the chair
Walkin' down death row
I sang of lives and loves in other years
Walkin' down death row
I sang of hopes that used to be
Through the bars into each separate cell
Yes I sang to one and two and three
If you’d only stuck together, you’d not be here
If you could have loved each other’s lives, you’d not be sitting here
And if only this you could believe
You still might, you might still be reprieved
Walkin' down death row
I turned a corner and found to my surprise
There were women there as well
And babies in their arms before my eyes
Walkin' down death row
I tried again to sing of hopes that used to be
But the thought of that contraption down the hall
Waiting for whole families one dozen two or three
If you’d only stuck together you’d not be here
If you coulda loved another’s child as well, you’d not have to stay here
And if only this you could believe
You still might, you might still be reprieved
Walkin' down death row
I concentrated singing to the young
I sang of hopes that flickered still
I tried to mouth their many separate tongues
Walkin' down death row
I sang again of life and love that still could be
Singin' down death row
To each separate human cell one billion two or three
If you’d only stick together you’d not be here
If you could love another’s child
If you could love another’s life, like your own, you’d not be here
And if only this you could believe
You still might, you might still be reprieved