Elvis Costello - A Condemned Man

a condemned man

Am
judge said , “son , you better say your prayers
F E
got a noose that fits you and some gallow stairs
Am Am/G E
and by this time tomorrow you won’t be alive
Am Am/G F
soon we’ll be giving you 10 , 000 volts”
E Am
and i said , “make that twenty five”

the firing squad have got me right in their sights
got me strapped up tightly with some dynamite
and i hear the executioner has got a brand new kink
he’s giving me cyanide to breathe and strychnine to drink

F C/B Am
so dress me in chains and bind me in shackles
F C/B Am
the last thing you’ll hear is my cold hearted cackle
F C/B Am D G
the last thing you’ll see is my twisted leer
C C7 F E Am
i’m a condemned man and i’ll never get out of here

G D F C
the searchlight’s sweeping up from the prison tower
G D F C
the clock is creeping up to the midnight hour
G D F F F C
outside they’re wailing , “repent , repent , repent , and believe”
C7 F E
there’s a telephone ringing but no chance of reprieve

Am
all you straight shooters and god fearing dolts
Am Am/G F E
can be scared rigid by electrical volts
F C/B Am D G
but i can’t be killed by any regular means
C C7 F E Am
or i’ll come back to haunt you and visit your dreams