They gave me paper, gave me time
Said I had the right to clear my mind
So I dipped this pen in midnight's breath
And wrote to the ones I left in death
To my ma, I'm sorry I lied
Said I'd come home, then I let it slide
I took a pistol instead of a plow
And I'm payin' for that promise now
These are letters from the gallows
Words swingin' slow in the hangman's shadow
A name carved deep in a wooden beam
For a boy who broke more than dreams
To the sheriff's girl I once held near
You cried when I ran, now I know why, dear
I stole more than silver when I took that life
I stole your chance to be a wife
One shot rang out, and time stood still
A drunk man's temper, a soldier's skill
They say the rope don't lie or bend
And justice don't care what breaks in the end
These are letters from the gallows
Scrawled in ink where the daylight swallows
I ain't askin' God to set me free
I just hope He reads what I couldn't be
So burn this page or let it stay
Won't matter none come hangman's day
I was a man too late to change
But I wrote it down
Before the range