It all began when
They took me from my home
And put me on death row
A crime for which I am totally innocent, you knowI began to warm and chill
To objects and their fields
A ragged cup, a twisted mop
The face of Jesus in my soupThose sinister dinner deals
The meal trolley's wicked wheels
A hooked bone rising from my food
And all things either good or un-goodAnd the mercy seat is waitin'
And I think my head is burnin'
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this weighing of the truth
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth and I'm not afraid to dieI hear stories from the chamber
Christ was born into a manger
And like some ragged stranger
He died upon the crossMight I say, it seems
So fitting in its way
He was a carpenter by trade
Or at least that's what I'm toldMy kill-hand's tattooed 'E.V.I.L.'
Across it's brother's fist
That filthy five, they did nothing
To challenge or resistIn Heaven, His throne is made of gold
The ark of His Testament is stowed
A throne from which I'm told
All history does unfoldIt's made of wood and wire
And my body is on fire
And God is never far awayInto the mercy seat I climb
My head is shaved, my head is wired
And like a moth that tries to enter the bright eye
I go shuffling out of life
Just to hide in death awhile
And anyway I never liedAnd the mercy seat is waitin'
And I think my head is burnin'
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this weighing of the truth
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and anyway
I told the truth and I'm not afraid to dieAnd the mercy seat is burnin'
And I think my head is glowin'
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all this twisting of the truth
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
And anyway there was no proof and I'm not afraid to dieAnd the mercy seat is glowin'
And I think my head is smokin'
And in a way I'm hoping to be done
With all these looks of disbelief
A life for a life and a truth for a truth
And I've got nothing left to lose
And I'm not afraid to dieAnd the mercy seat is smokin'
And I think my head is meltin'
And in a way that's helping
To be done with all this twisting of the truth
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth but I'm afraid I told a lie