Oh what I'd give to be with my Mary
To hold her close and walk again through meadows green
To see again the tender love light shining from her eyes
To walk among the ones I love but jailbirds can't fly
Oh what I'd give to see my old dad and mom
It seems that I can hear them saying hurry home my son
I can feel the soft lips of my Mary as we kissed goodbye
I long to fly straight to her arms but jailbirds can't fly
No it can't be no not for me these walls are too high and jailbirds can't fly
Tomorrow when dawn comes and they sat me in that chair
Soon I'll be with my Mary but I'll no longer care
Then they'll place me on that big silver plane that sails the homeward skies
But from the walls of that pinebox jailbirds can't fly
No it can't be no not for me these walls are too high and jailbirds can't fly