Ellis Unit One

ellis unit one written by steve earle E i was fresh out of the service A it was back in 82 E B A i raised some cain when i came back to town E i meant to be all i could be A come home without a clue E B E married dawn and had to settle down E so i hired on at the prison A guess i always knew i would E B A just like my dad and both my uncles done E worked on every cell block A now , things’re goin’ good E B E then they transferred me to ellis unit one A B swing low E A swing low B E ( repeat ) swing low and carry me home E A now , my Daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls E B A and how they used to strap Em in the chair E A the kids down from the college and they’d bring their beer n all E B A when the lights went out , a cheer rose in the air E i guess folks just got too civilized A old sparky’s gatherin’ dust E B A no one wants to touch a smokin’ gun E they got that injection now A they don’t mind as much , i guess E B E put Em down on ellis unit one A B swing low E A swing low B E ( repeat ) swing low and carry me home E well , i’ve seen Em fight like lions , boys A i’ve seen ’em go like lambs E B A and i’ve helped to drag Em when they could not stand E A and i’ve heard their mamas cryin’ when they heard that big door slam E B E i’ve seen the victim’s family’s holdin’ hands E A last night i dreamed that i woke up with straps across my chest E B A and something cold and black pullin’ through my lungs E A even jesus couldn’t save me though i know he did his best E B E but he don’t live on ellis unit one Chorus x2