I was fresh out of the service
It was back in
I raised some cain when i come back to town
I left to be all i could be
Come home without a clue
Now, i married dawn and had to settle down
So i hired on at the prison
Guess i always knew i would
Just like my dad and both my uncles done
And i worked on every cell block
Now, things're goin' good
But then they transferred me to ellis unit one
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low and carry me home
Well, my daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls
And how they used to strap
The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer
Well, folks just got too civilized
Sparky's gatherin' dust
And since they got the injection
They don't mind as much, i guess
They just put
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low and carry me home
Well, i've seen
I've seen 'em go like lambs
And i've helped to drag
And i've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam
And i've seen the victim's family holdin' hands
Last night i dreamed that i woke up with straps across my chest
And something cold and black pullin' through my lungs
But he don't live on ellis unit one
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low and carry me home
Swing low
Don't let go
Swing low and carry me home