From: rickl1@ix.netcom.com
 
 
Steve Earle     Ellis Unit One written by Steve Earle

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I was fresh out of the service 
       A
It was back in ‘82 
E                         B            A
I raised some Cain when I came back to town 
E
Meant to be all I could be 
A
Come home without a clue 
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Married Dawn and had to settle down 
     E
So I hired on at the prison 
         A
Guess I always knew I would 
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Just like my dad and both my uncles done 
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Worked on every cell block 
     A
Now, things're goin' good 
          E                 B          E
Then they transferred me to Ellis Unit One 
A     B
Swing low 
E     A
Swing low 
              B        E   A  B  E   A  B  E
Swing low and carry me home 
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Now, my daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls 
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And how they used to strap ‘em in the chair 
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The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer ‘n all 
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When the lights went out, a cheer rose in the air 
         E
I guess  folks just got too civilized 
A
Old Sparky's gatherin' dust 
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No one wants to touch a smokin' gun 
E
Ehey got that injection  now
           A
They don't mind as much, I guess 
E               B7         E
Put ‘em down on Ellis Unit One 
A     B
Swing low 
E     A
Swing low 
              B        E  A  B  E   A   B   E 
Swing low and carry me home 
E
Well, I've seen ‘em fight like lions, boys 
A
I've seen 'em go like lambs 
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And I've helped to drag ‘em when they could not stand 
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And I've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam 
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I've seen the victim's family's holdin' hands 
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Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest 
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And something cold and black pullin' through my lungs 
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Even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best 
       E              B         E
But he don't live on Ellis Unit One 
A     B
Swing low 
E     A
Swing low 
              B        E
Swing low and carry me home 
A     B
Swing low 
E     A
Swing low 
              B        E
Swing low and carry me home