The Byrds Life In Prison written by Merle Haggard/J. Sanders F C7 The jury found the verdict first degree F They swore I planned her death to be F C7 I prayed they'd sentence me to die F But they wanted me to live and I know why F C7 So I'd do life in prison for the wrongs I've done F And I pray every night for death to come F C7 My life will be a burden every day F If I could die my pain might go away SOLO F C7 with trembling hands I killed my darling wife C7 F Because I loved her more than life C7 My love for her will last a long long time F But I'd rather die than live to lose my mind C7 And I'll do life in prison for the wrongs I've done F And I pray every night for death to come C7 My life will be a burden every day F If I could die my pain might go away C7 F If I could die my pain might go away From The Byrds "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" Columbia Records 1968