C     F  G  C

[Verse]
C
I was fresh out of the service
       F
It was back in ‘82
      C                       G            F
And I raised some Cain when I came back to town
  C
I meant to be all I could be
     F
Come home without a clue
C                G             C
Married Dawn and had to settle down
     C
So I hired on at the prison
        F
Guess I always knew I would
     C               G              F
Just like my dad and both my uncles done
C
Worked on every cell block
     F
Now, things're going good
          C                 G          C
Then they transferred me to Ellis Unit One

[Chorus]
F     G
Swing low
C     F
Swing low
              G        C
Swing low and carry me home

[Verse]
   C                             F
My daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls
    C                G                F
And how they used to strap 'em in the chair
    C                                     F
The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer ‘n all
         C                  G                 F
When the lights went out, a cheer rose in the air
        C
I guess folks just got too civilized
    F
Old Sparky's gathering dust
C               G               F
No one wants to touch a smoking gun
C
They got that injection now
           F
They don't mind as much, I guess
C               G          C
Put ‘em down on Ellis Unit One

[Chorus]
F     G
Swing low
C     F
Swing low
              G        C
Swing low and carry me home

[Verse]
           C
Well, I've seen 'em fight like lions, boys
     F
I've seen 'em go like lambs
         C                  G                   F
And I've helped to drag 'em when they could not stand
         C                                  F
And I've heard their mamas crying when they heard that big door slam
C                      G                C
I've seen the victim's family's holding hands
     C                                   F
Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest
    C                        G                  F
And something cold and black pulling through my lungs
     C                               F
Even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best
    C                G          C
But he don't live on Ellis Unit One

[Chorus]
F     G
Swing low
C     F
Swing low
              G        C
Swing low and carry me home

[Chorus]
F     G
Swing low
C     F
Swing low
              G        C
Swing low and carry me home