Twistin' Lyrics - Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away - Slaid Cleaves

Years ago on an April day 

A crowd gathered from miles around 

Over a thousand, I heard one say 

All around me on the square in town 

Ladies dressed up in their best 

Kids ran around and played 

They all come to see me I guessed 

Me and the sheriff and a man in chains 

The Reverend Sam began a prayer 

To the women, the men, the boys and girls 

"We are graveyard sons and daughters 

Passing through an unfriendly world" 

A few last words and down he goes 

Teeth bared in an awful grin 

A cheer rises up from the crowd 

As I hold him, twistin in the wind 

Men held up their babies to see 

Reporters jotted down a tale 

Hawkers brought out lemonade 

And the ladies headed for the hangin' day sale 

From time to time these folks would come 

And all but one would walk away 

I'd shudder as the rope snapped tight 

But I got used to hanging day 

Now they don't gather round no more 

Though I'm tall and stouter still 

Now they do it all behind closed doors 

They say it's a better way to kill 

The Reverend Sam began a prayer 

To the women, the men, the boys and girls 

"We are graveyard sons and daughters 

Passing through an unfriendly world" 

A few last words and down he goes 

Teeth bared in an awful grin 

A cheer rises up from the crowd 

As I hold him, twistin in the wind 

One more poor boy dead and gone 

Twistin in the wind