Well they're building a gallows outside my cell and I've got 25 minutes to go
And the whole town's waitin' just to hear me yell I've got 24 minutes to go
Well they gave me some beans for my last meal with 23 minutes to go
But nobody asked me how I feel I've got 22 minutes to go

Well I sent for the governor and the whole darn bunch with 21 minutes to go
And I called up the mayor but he's out to lunch I've got 20 more minutes to go
Then the sheriff said boy I'm gonna watch you die with 19 minutes to go
So I laughed in his face and I spit in his eye with 18 minutes to go

Now hear comes the preacher for to save my soul with 13 minutes to go
And he's talking bout' burnin' but I'm so cold 12 more minutes to go
Now they're testin' the trap and it chills my spine 11 more minutes to go
And the trap and the rope aw they work just fine 10 more minutes to go

Well I'm waitin' for the pardon that'll set me free with 9 more minutes to go
But this aint the movies so forget about me 8 more minutes to go
With my feet on the trap and my head in the noose 5 more minutes to go
Won't somebody come and cut me loose with 4 more minutes to go

I can see the mountains I can see the skies with 3 more minutes to go
And it's too darn pretty for a man to want to die 2 more minutes to go
I can see the buzzards I can hear the crows 1 more minute to go
And now I'm swingin' and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!