The warden led a prisoner down the hallway to his doom
I stood up to say goodbye like all the rest
& I heard him tell the warden just before he reached my cell
"Let my guitar-playin' friend do my request"

"Let him sing me back home, a song I used to hear
Make my old mem'ries come to life
Take me away & turn back the years
Sing me back home before I die"

I recall a Sunday morning a choir from on the street
Came in to sing a few old gospel songs
& I heard him tell the singer "There's a song my mama sang
Could I hear it once before you move along?"

"Won't you sing me back home, a song I used to hear
Make my old mem'ries down to lie
Take me away & turn back the years
Sing me back home before I die