It was late one night in the heart of town, I was drinking all alone
Ran out of cash when I paid my tab, so I headed home
The night was black, the air was thick as I wandered past the bar
Then the shot rang out, and I heard a scream beside me in the dark

Afraid that maybe I'd be next, I started to run
Just as fast as my feet would go, into the barrel of a gun
The lawman's light was blinding me, he said, "Why'd you do it, son?"
Two weeks later in criminal court, I was up on murder one

Maybe some early morning, in a pasture of green
Beside the still water, I'll awake from this dream
This terrible dream

Well I sat there in the courtroom, as the tears ran down my face
A guilty man is free somewhere and they put me in his place
The jury read the verdict and the judge called out my name
He said, "Young man, you'll spend your life wearing the ball and chain"

Now I'm staring at the ceiling, as I lay here on my bed
Fourteen long and lonely years, it's where I laid my head
Behind these cold gray prison walls, time sure passes slow
And unless I die tomorrow, I've still got a life to go

Maybe some early morning, in a pasture of green
Beside the still water, I'll awake from this dream
This terrible dream

A man who's lost his vision will live and die alone
In the cold walls of this prison, my heart has turned to stone
The lights are growing dimmer as I take my final breath
I can smell the air of freedom as I close my eyes in death

Maybe some early morning, in a pasture of green
Beside the still water, I'll awake from this dream
This terrible dream