Em D Bm C Em D Bm C Em D Bm C Em D Bm C

[Verse]
Em      Bm
The big day has come
A           G
the bell is sounding
Em      Bm                 A   G
I run my hands through my hair one last time
Em          Bm
outside the prison walls
A          G
the town is gathering
Em         Bm       A         G
people are trading crime for crime

[Break]
Em D Bm C Em D Bm C

[Verse]
         Em                   Bm
everyone needs to see the prisoner
     A               G
they need to make it even easier
Em               Bm       A              G
they see me as a symbol, and not a human being
Em                Bm
that way they can kill me
             A              G
say it's not murder, it's a metaphor
Em              Bm
we are killing off our own failure
A            G
and starting clean

[Break]
Em D Bm C Em D Bm C Em D Bm C Em D Bm C

[Verse]
Em               Bm
standing in the gallows
A        G
everyone turned my way
Em       Bm
i hear a voice ask me
        A                  G
if i've got any last words to say
Em          Bm            A            G
and i'm looking out over the field of familiar eyes
Em          Bm            A            G
somewhere in a woman's arms a baby cries

[Break]
Em D Bm C Em D Bm C

[Verse]
Em      Bm
I think guilt and innocence
          A           G
they are a matter of degree
Em            Bm
what might be justice to you
A                      G
might not be justice to me
Em            Bm
I went to far, i'm sorry
        A              G
I guess now i'm going home
Em     Bm
so let he amongst you
A       G
Cast the first stone

[Break]
Em D Bm C Em D Bm C Em D Bm C Em D Bm C

[Verse]
Em         Bm
now we've got all these complicated machines
Em             Bm                 A             G
so no one person ever has to have blood on their hands
Em                Bm
we've got complex organizations
           A                 G
and if everyone just does their job
Em                Bm
no one person has to understand
           A                 G
you might be the wrong color
Em                Bm
you might be too poor
           A                 G
justice isn't something just anyone can afford
Em                Bm
you might not pull the trigger
           A                 G
you might be out in the car
Em                Bm
and you might get a lethal injection
           A                 G
'cause we take a metaphor that far

[Break]
Em D Bm C Em D Bm C Em D Bm C Em D Bm C

[Verse]
Em      Bm
The big day has come
A           G
the bell is sounding
Em      Bm                 A   G
i run my hands through my hair one last time
Em          Bm
outside the prison walls
A          G
the town has gathered
Em         Bm       A             G
people are trading crime for crime

[Outro]
Em         Bm       A             G
people are trading crime for crime
Em         Bm            A              G
people are still trading crime for crime
Em         Bm            A              G
people are still trading crime for crime
Em         Bm            A              G
people are still trading crime for crime
Em         Bm            A              G
people are still trading crime for crime
Em         Bm            A              G  Em
people are still trading crime for crime