They killed a man for doing wrong today
When all he ever did in life was look the other way
And with his verdict someone heard him pray
The crowd gathered round to see the look on his face
Will they ever know the last words he spoke?
He cried, "Mother!" as the people stood and stared
He cried, "Mother!" but no one seemed to care
Barely 25 years to his name
Only the good die young is too hard to say
With a wife and child living back at home
Far from here where he dies all alone
Will they ever know the last words he spoke?
He cried, "Mother!"
Ask the people who were there
When he cried, "Mother!" it sounded like a prayer
They killed a man for doing wrong today