Paul Crump Lyrics - Phil Ochs

In the state of Illinois 'bout nine years ago 

A cold blooded killer, he went against the law 

He killed a factory guard when his robbery did fail 

And they caught him and they threw him into jail 

He lay there in his cell, locked up with his hate 

Not many men knew of him and less cared for his fate 

And he knew no peace of mind when his trial was comin' by 

The judge said, "You are guilty you must die" 

But Paul Crump is alive today 

He's a sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say 

Every man has got something to give 

And if a man can change, then a man should live 

They sent him to Cook County Jail, a jail known far and wide 

Where pity was a stranger and brave men often cry 

They locked him in the death row to count the days before 

To the day they came a knockin' at his door 

But another warden came along, Jack Johnson was his name 

He knew how prison living could drive a man to shame 

He had no need of pistols in a solitary cell 

When a word of trust would help him just as well 

Now Paul Crump is alive today 

He's a sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say 

Every man has got something to give 

And if a man can change, then a man should live 

Between the warden and the convict, a friendship slowly grew 

And one learned from the other that a man can live anew 

Then the warden called the convict, "You must leave the devil's plan 

The time has come for you to be a man" 

Then the convict found religion and he started him to learn 

He wrote himself a novel called 'Burn, Killer, Burn' 

And as his dying day grew near, to the warden he did cry 

"You must pull the switch and I must die" 

But Paul Crump is alive today 

He's a sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say 

Every man has got something to give 

And if a man can change, then a man should live 

It was up to Governor Kerner to keep him from the grave 

Was rehabilitation a reason to be saved? 

The hour was comin' closer, the word was spread around 

A new and better answer must be found 

Well, the electric chair was cheated, the convict didn't pay 

A new concept of justice was born and raised that day 

Now throughout this peaceful land there are others set to die 

What better time than now to question why? 

But Paul Crump is alive today 

He's a sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say 

Every man has got something to give 

And if a man can change, then a man should live