Billy Austin Lyrics - Steve Earle

My name is Billy Austin 

I'm Twenty-Nine years old 

I was born in Oklahoma 

Quarter Cherokee I'm told 

Don't remember Oklahoma 

Been so long since I left home 

Seems like I've always been in prison 

Like I've always been alone 

Didn't mean to hurt nobody 

Never thought I'd cross that line 

I held up a filling station 

Like I'd done a hundred times 

The kid done like I told him 

He lay face down on the floor 

Guess I'll never know what made me 

Turn and walk back through that door 

The shot rang out like thunder 

My ears rang like a bell 

No one came runnin' 

So I called the cops myself 

Took their time to get there 

And I guess I could'a run 

I knew I should be feeling something 

But I never shed tear one 

I didn't even make the papers 

'Cause I only killed one man 

But my trial was over quickly 

And then the long hard wait began 

Court appointed lawyer 

Couldn't look me in the eye 

He just stood up and closed his briefcase 

When they sentenced me to die 

Now my waitin's over 

As the final hour drags by 

I ain't about to tell you 

That I don't deserve to die 

But there's twenty-seven men here 

Mostly black, brown and poor 

Most of em are guilty 

Who are you to say for sure? 

So when the preacher comes to get me 

And they shave off all my hair 

Could you take that long walk with me 

Knowing hell is waitin' there 

Could you pull that switch yourself sir 

With a sure and steady hand 

Could you still tell youself 

That you're better than I am 

My name is Billy Austin 

I'm twenty-nine years old 

I was born in Oklahoma 

Quarter Cherokee I'm told 

Related 

26 Best Breakup Songs Of All Time 

Linkin Park Honors Chester Bennington In The Emotional Video For 'One More Light' 

Watch Beck's Heroic New Music Video For 'Up All Night' 

Photos