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