WALKING DOWN DEATH ROW
(Pete Seeger)

Walking down death row,
I sang for three men, destined for the chair
Walking down death row,
I sang of lives and loves in other years.
Walking down death row,
I sang of hopes that used to be.
Through the bars, into each sep'rate 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 here!
And if only this you would be you still might, you might still be reprieved


Walking down death row,
I turned the corner and found to my surprise,
There were women there as well,
With babies in their arms, before my eyes.
Walking down death row
I tried once more to sing of hopes that used to be
But the thought of that contraption down the hall,
Waiting for them all, one dozen, two, or three.

CHORUS
"If you'd not been so loyal to those damn fools, you'd not be here!
If you could have loved another's child as well, you'd not be waiting here!
And if only this you would believe You still might, you might still be reprieved."


Walking down death row,
I concentrated singing to the young.
I sang of hopes that flickered still;
I tried to mouth their many sep'rate tongues.
(Chorus)

Copyright 1966, Stormking Music

Source: Sing Out! Collected Reprints (blue volume)

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filename[ DEATHROW
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Oct01^^