IN THE CROWD HE FORCED HIS WAY THROUGH THE PEOPLE TO THE FRONT OF THE PLATFORM
A BOUQUET OF DAISIES IN HIS HAND BEHIND HIS BACK THE OTHER REACHED INTO HIS VEST COAT
HE FELT FOR HIS GUN HIS SWEAT DRIPPED DOWN THE GUNS BARREL
HE PULLED THE TRIGGER BACK HIS HEART WENT NUMB HE TURNED YELLOW
WAITIN’ FOR THE BAND PLAYIN’
SPIT IN THE DIRT AND IT BUBBLED
PRAYIN’ FOR THE LADY HANGIN’
HER NECK WAS STRETCHED AND BROKEN AND HE WAS TROUBLED AGAIN
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER ANOTHER WOMAN WAS LED TO THE GALLOWS
SHE SHOT A PREACHER IN PASO ROBLES STOLE AND MELTED DOWN HIS CHURCHES GOLDEN CANDLE STICKS
THE MAN WITH THE FLOWERS WAS IN THE CROWD BUT THIS TIME IT WAS ROSES
THEY READ HER LAST RIGHTS SHE DAMNED THE PREACHERS EYES HE PUT HIS GUN BACK IN HIS HOLSTER
WAITIN’ FOR THE BAND PLAYIN’
SPIT IN THE DIRT AND IT BUBBLED
PRAYIN’ FOR THE LADY HANGIN’
HER NECK WAS STRETCHED AND BROKEN AND HE WAS TROUBLED AGAIN
IN HIS DREAMS HE SHOT THE SHERIFF FROM THE SCAFFOLD TOOK HIS BRIDE
THE HANGMAN READ THE WEDDING VOWS PRONOUNCED THEM MAN AND WIFE
THE WHOLE TOWN CHEERED AND THEY GOT DRUNK AND GAVE THEM A BUCK BOARD
THE SEAT SPRINGS SHOT THE WHEEL SPOKES BROKE THEY RODE OFF AND TOOK THE WORLD
WAITIN’ FOR THE BAND PLAYIN’
SPIT IN THE DIRT AND IT BUBBLED
PRAYIN’ FOR THE LADY HANGIN’
HER NECK WAS STRETCHED AND BROKEN AND HE WAS TROUBLED AGAIN
FADED WITH FLOWERS WAS THE FIGURE OF A TIRED OLD LONELY MAN
ANOTHER LADY WAS AT THE ROPE AND HE FIGURED THIS WAS HIS LAST CHANCE
THEY PUT A BAG OVER HER HEAD A NOOSE AROUND HER NECK HE SCREAMED OUT FOR THEM TO STOP
THE WHOLE CROWD LOOKED AT HIM
HE SUCKED IN A BREATH WITH HIS CHARRED LUNGS AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID
NUTHIN’ NEVERMIND GOD DAMMIT
WAITIN’ FOR THE BAND PLAYIN’
SPIT IN THE DIRT AND IT BUBBLED
PRAYIN’ FOR THE LADY HANGIN’
HER NECK WAS STRETCHED AND BROKEN AND HE WAS TROUBLED AGAIN
-Charlie McGovern
Early 2001
Silverlake, California