Billy Austin
Steve Earle & The Dukes Lyrics

My name is Billy Austin
Introduction of the singer, Billy Austin

I'm Twenty-Nine years old
Statement of his age

I was born in Oklahoma
Mention of his birthplace

Quarter Cherokee I'm told
Acknowledging his Cherokee heritage

Don't remember Oklahoma
Admitting he has been away from his birthplace for too long

Been so long since I left home
Stating how long he has been away from home

Seems like I've always been in prison
Expressing his feeling of being trapped in a prison-like environment

Like I've always been alone
Feeling of loneliness and seclusion

Didn't mean to hurt nobody
Claiming he did not intend to harm anyone

Never thought I'd cross that line
Admitting to himself that he never thought he would commit such a crime

I held up a filling station
Referring to the crime of robbery he committed

Like I'd done a hundred times
Using hyperbole to emphasize his familiarity with such crimes

The kid done like I told him
Referring to the victim who complied with his demands

He lay face down on the floor
Describing the victim's response to his demands

Guess I'll never know what made me
Expressing his confusion about his own actions

Turn and walk back through that door
Description of his crime, where he shot the victim while leaving the scene

The shot rang out like thunder
Depiction of the sound of the gunshot

My ears rang like a bell
His physical reaction to the loud sound of the gunshot

No one came runnin'
Lack of response from anyone nearby after the gunshot

So I called the cops myself
Illustration of his decision to surrender to the police

Took their time to get there
Highlighting the police's slow response time

And I guess I could'a run
Admitting that he had the option to flee but decided to surrender

I knew I should be feeling something
Realizing that he should be feeling remorse or regret

But I never shed tear one
Indicating the artist's lack of emotions related to his crime

I didn't even make the papers
Observing that his crime did not receive much media coverage

'Cause I only killed one man
Explaining the reason for the lack of media attention

But my trial was over quickly
Acknowledging the speed at which his trial was resolved

And then the long hard wait began
Describing the wait for his execution date

Court appointed lawyer
Mentioning his lawyer appointed by the court

Couldn't look me in the eye
Implies his lawyer's shame or discomfort in facing him

He just stood up and closed his briefcase
His attorney's brief appearance before leaving the courtroom

When they sentenced me to die
Describing the death penalty ruled by the court for his crime

Now my waitin's over
Expressing relief that the waiting is now over

As the final hour drags by
Feeling the weight of the time prior to his execution

I ain't about to tell you
Asserting that he won't deny his guilt

That I don't deserve to die
Admitting that he deserves to be punished with death

But there's twenty-seven men here
Referring to the other inmates on death row near him

Mostly black, brown and poor
Observing the majority of the other inmates are people of color and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds

Most of em are guilty
Admitting that his fellow inmates on death row are also guilty of their crimes

Who are you to say for sure?
Questioning the authority of the spectators or society in judging criminals

So when the preacher comes to get me
Imagining the situation when a preacher comes to be with him before the execution

And they shave off all my hair
Describing the process before the execution

Could you take that long walk with me
Asking if someone can accompany him for his last walk

Knowing hell is waitin' there
Acknowledging the punishment he will face after death

Could you pull that switch yourself sir
Asking if one can take the responsibility to execute him

With a sure and steady hand
Requesting the person if they can execute him efficiently

Could you still tell youself
Asking if the person can justify their action

That you're better than I am
Questioning the person's superiority over him