The Brothers Four – 25 Minutes To Go lyrics

(Shel Silverstein)

Well, they're buildin' the gallows outside this jail.
I've got 25 minutes to go.

And the whole towns waiting just to hear me wail.
There's 24 minutes to go.

Well, they give me some beans for my last meal.
23 minutes to go.

And nobody asked me how I feel.
22 minutes to go.

So, I sent for the Gov'nor and the whole darned bunch.
21 minutes to go.

And I call up the Mayor, but he's out to lunch.
I got 20 more minutes to go.

Then, the Sheriff said, "Boy, I wanna watch you die."
You've got 19 minutes to go.

So I laughed in his face... and I spit in his eye.
I got 18 minutes to go.

Then I called up the Warden to hear my plea.
I've got 17 minute to go.

He said, "Call me back in a week or three.
You've got 16 minutes to go.

Now, my lawyer says he's sorry that he missed my case.
I've got 15 minutes to go.

Well, if you're so sorry, come and take my place.
I got 14 minutes to go.

Now, here comes the padre to save my soul.
With 13 minutes to go.

And he's talkin' about burnin', but I'm so cold.
I've got 12 minutes to go.

Now they're testin' the trap. And it chills my spine.
11 more minutes to go.

And the trap and the rope, ah they works just fine.
I've got 10 minutes to go.

Well, I'm a-waitin' for the pardon, gonna set me free
With 9 minutes to go.

But this ain't the movies, so forget about me.
I got 8 minutes to go.

Now I'm climbin' up the ladder to the scaffold there
With 7 minutes to go.

Now I'd better watch my step or else I'll break my leg.
I got 6 minutes to go.

With my feet on the trap and my head in the noose
5 minutes to go.

Won't someone come and cut me loose.
I got 4 minutes to go.

I can see the mountains, see the sky.
3 minutes to go.

And it's too darned pretty for a man don't wanna die.
I got 2 minutes to go.

I can hear the buzzards, hear the crows.
1 minute to go.

And now I'm swingin' and here I gooooooooo...