Ellis Unit One written by Steve Earle E 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 I meant to be all I could be A Come home without a clue E B E Married Dawn and had to settle down E So I hired on at the prison A Guess I always knew I would E B A Just like my dad and both my uncles done E 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 (repeat) Swing low and carry me home E A Now, my daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls E B A And how they used to strap ?em in the chair E A The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer ?n all E B A 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 E B A No one wants to touch a smokin' gun E They got that injection now A They don't mind as much, I guess E B E Put ?em down on Ellis Unit One A B Swing low E A Swing low B E (repeat) Swing low and carry me home E Well, I've seen ?em fight like lions, boys A I've seen 'em go like lambs E B A And I've helped to drag ?em when they could not stand E A And I've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam E B E I've seen the victim's family's holdin' hands E A Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest E B A And something cold and black pullin' through my lungs E A 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 Chorus x2