Ewan MacColl - Ballad Of Tim Evans lyrics

Tim Evans was a prisoner Fast in his prison cell And those who read about his crimes They damned his soul to hell Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." For the murder of his own dear wife And the k**ing of his own child The jury found him guilty And the hangin' judge, he smiled Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." Tim Evans pleaded innocent And he swore by Him on high That he never k**ed his own dear wife Nor caused his child to die Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." The governor came in one day And the chaplain by his side Said, "Your appeal has been turned down Prepare yourself to die." Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." They moved him out of C-block To his final flowery dell And day and night two screws were there And they never left his cell Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." Sometimes they played draughts with him And solo and pontoon To stop him brooding on the rope That was to be his doom Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." They brought his grub in on a tray There was eggs and meat and ham And all the snout that he could smoke Was there at his command Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." Tim Evans walked in the prison yard And the screws, they walked behind; And he saw the sky above the wall But he knew no peace of mind Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." They came for him at eight o'clock And the chaplain read a prayer And then they marched him to that place Where the hangman did prepare Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." The rope was fixed around his neck And a washer behind his ear The prison bell was tolling But Tim Evans did not hear Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." A thousand lags were cursing And a-banging on the doors; But Evans couldn't hear them He was deaf for ever more Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down." They sent Tim Evans to the drop For a crime he did not do It was Christy was the murderer And the judge and jury too Sayin', "Go down, you murderers, go down."