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Life In Prison
The Byrds Lyrics


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The jury found the verdict first degree
They swore I planned her death to be
I prayed they'd sentence me to die
But they wanted me to live and I know why

So I'd do life in prison for the wrongs I've done
And I pray every night for death to come
My life will be a burden every day
If I could die, my pain might go away

With trembling hands I killed my darling wife
Because I loved her more than life
My love for her will last a long, long time
But I'd rather die than live to lose my mind

And I'll do life in prison for the wrongs I've done
And pray every night for death to come
My life will be a burden every day
If I could die, my pain might go away

If I could die, my pain might go away

Overall Meaning

The song "Life in Prison" by The Byrds is a heart-wrenching ballad about a man who has been found guilty of murdering his wife and sentenced to life imprisonment. The lyrics convey the agony, regret, and desperation of the singer as he contemplates his fate. The opening lines, "The jury found the verdict first degree, they swore I planned her death to be," highlights the sense of hopelessness that surrounds the singer. He had no chance of winning the case, and the verdict is a death sentence in itself.


The singer's desire for death is evident throughout the song, with the repetition of the line, "And I pray every night for death to come." The reference to religion in the song, "I prayed they'd sentence me to die," highlights the extent of the singer's anguish, and the fact that he sees death as his only release from the pain. The final lines of the song, "If I could die, my pain might go away," are poignant and powerful. The singer has to live with the guilt of his actions and the burden of his sentence, and death seems like the only possible escape.


Interestingly, "Life in Prison" was not a original composition by The Byrds. It was written by the legendary country musician Merle Haggard, who was serving a prison sentence for burglary when he wrote the song. The lyrics are based on Haggard's own experiences and reflect his own sense of disillusionment and regret. The Byrds recorded the song as part of their album "Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde" in 1969, and it went on to become one of their most popular and critically acclaimed tracks.


Line by Line Meaning

The jury found the verdict first degree
The legal authorities ruled that I killed my wife with premeditation.


They swore I planned her death to be
They believed that I had intended to end her life.


I prayed they'd sentence me to die
I wished for the court to impose the death penalty on me.


But they wanted me to live and I know why
My captors thought that confinement for life would be a harsher punishment.


So I'd do life in prison for the wrongs I've done
I would spend the remainder of my existence incarcerated due to my wrongdoing.


And I pray every night for death to come
Every day, I plead that an escape from my torment becomes possible.


My life will be a burden every day
Each waking moment for me will be a hardship.


If I could die, my pain might go away
The dissolution of my own life might offer relief from the constant agony.


With trembling hands I killed my darling wife
I took the life of my beloved partner through my trembling's action.


Because I loved her more than life
I felt a love for her that exceeded my own life.


My love for her will last a long, long time
The affection I have for her is eternal and far-reaching.


But I'd rather die than live to lose my mind
I would prefer to perish than suffer from a mental breakdown.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, OWEN PUBLICATIONS
Written by: JELLY SANDERS, MERLE HAGGARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@jimmysanders3832

My Father is Jelly Sanders, he and Merle Haggard wrote this song in the early 60s. It was blamed by Gram Parsons as why the album was not a big seller. But my royalty checks keep coming in. We have the album here at home and it is a good album and it also is one of our favorites. They should never have been booed at the G.O.Opry.The Birds were one of Americas greatest groups.

@indian23hhs

Jimmy Sanders we should jam man! I'll show my stuff if you show me yours?

@tulliomoras1112

Hi Jimmy, it's great for any guy to have such good memories of his own father

@jonpiornack1699

My lordy, what a great story about a great song! Thank so much Jimmy Sanders!

@andygossard4293

I love the song, with an old parlor trick= cheery upbeat presentation on a sad theme. I thought Gram did it great and the song is great.

@2ndMounier

I wanted you to know this is one of my all time favorite songs. I have always thought it was a winner. Thanks.

@TheRomundus

Nobody covers Merle better than Gram.

@PadreArnaldo

Great album by the Byrds!

@Videographic69

One of the best albums period! Lee

@Dijkeman49

Together with "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" their two best albums.

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