@migu music@

Paul Crump - Phil Ochs

In the state of Illinois 'bout nine years ago

A cold blooded killer he went against the law

He killed a factory guard when his robbery did fail

And they caught him and they threw him into jail

He lay there in his cell locked up with his hate

Not many men knew of him and less cared for his fate

And he knew no peace of mind

When his trial was comin' by

The judge said "You are guilty you must die"

But Paul Crump is alive today

He's a sittin' in a cell he's got somethin' to say

Every man has got something to give

And if a man can change then a man should live

They sent him to Cook County Jail

A jail known far and wide

Where pity was a stranger and brave men often cry

They locked him in the death

Row to count the days before

To the day they came a knockin' at his door

But another warden came along

Jack Johnson was his name

He knew how prison living could drive a man to shame

He had no need of pistols in a solitary cell

When a word of trust would help him just as well

Now Paul Crump is alive today

He's a sittin' in a cell he's got somethin' to say

Every man has got something to give

And if a man can change

Then a man should live

Between the warden and the convict

A friendship slowly grew

And one learned from the other

That a man can live anew

Then the warden called the convict

"You must leave the devil's plan

The time has come for you to be a man"

Then the convict found religion

And he started him to learn

He wrote himself a novel called 'Burn Killer Burn'

And as his dying day grew near

To the warden he did cry

"You must pull the switch and I must die"

But Paul Crump is alive today

He's a sittin' in a cell he's got somethin' to say

Every man has got something to give

And if a man can change then a man should live

It was up to Governor Kerner to keep him from the grave

Was rehabilitation a reason to be saved

The hour was comin' closer

The word was spread around

A new and better answer must be found

Well the electric chair was cheated

The convict didn't pay

A new concept of justice was

Born and raised that day

Now throughout this peaceful

Land there are others set to die

What better time than now to question why

But Paul Crump is alive today

He's a sittin' in a cell

He's got somethin' to say

Every man has got something to give

And if a man can change

Then a man should live