Billy Austin

Kane's River

My name is Billy Austin, I'm 29 years old

I was born in Oklahoma,

Quarter Cherokee I'm told

Don't remember Oklahoma,

It's been so long since I left home

Seems 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,

Just like I'd done a hundred times

The kid done like I told him,

He lay face down on the floor

I 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

But no one come running,

So I called the cops myself

A court appointed lawyer

Couldn't look me in the eye

He just stood and closed his briefcase

When they sentenced me to die



But now the waiting's over,

As my final hours drag by

I ain't about to tell you that

I don't deserve to die

But could you pull that switch yourself, sir,

With a sure and steady hand

And could you still tell yourself, sir,

That you're better than I am



My name is Billy Austin, I'm 29 years old

I was born in Oklahoma,

Quarter Cherokee, I'm told