Ochs, Phil - Paul Crump Lyrics
In the state of Illinois 'bout nine years ago
A cold blooded killer he went against the law
He killed a factory guard when his robbery did fail
And they caught him and they threw him in the jail
He lay there in his cell locked up with his hate
And he knew no peace of mind when his trial was comin' by
The judge said, "You are guilty you must die"
But Paul Crump is alive today
He's a-sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say
Every man has got something to give
And if a man can change, then a man should live
They sent him to Cook County Jail, a jail known far and wide
Where pity was a stranger and brave men often cry
To the day they came a knockin' at his door
But another warden came along, Jack Johnson was his name
He knew how prison living could drive a man to shame
He had no need of pistols for the solitary cells
When a word of trust would help him just as well
But Paul Crump is alive today
He's a-sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say
Every man has got something to give
And if a man can change, then a man should live
Between the warden and the convict a friendship slowly grew
And one learned from the other that a man can live anew
Then the warden called the convict, "You must leave the devil's plan
"The time has come for you to be a man"
Then the convict found religion and he started him to learn
He wrote himself a novel called Burn Killer Burn
And as his dying day grew near, to the warden he did cry
"You must pull the switch and I must die"
But Paul Crump is alive today
He's a-sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say
Every man has got something to give
And if a man can change, then a man should live
It was up to Governor Kerner to keep him from the grave
Was rehabilitation a reason to be saved?
The hour was comin' closer, the word was spread around
A new and better answer must be found
Well the electric chair was cheated, the convict didn't pay
A new concept of justice was born and raised that day
Now throughout this peaceful land there are others set to die
What better time than now to question why?
But Paul Crump is alive today
He's a-sittin' in a cell, he's got somethin' to say
Every man has got something to give
And if a man can change, then a man should live
Other Lyrics by Artist
- Ochs, Phil - Floods Of Florence
- Ochs, Phil - Boy In Ohio
- Ochs, Phil - Gas Station Women
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- Ochs, Phil - Ten Cents A Coup
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- Ochs, Phil - Basket In The Pool
- Ochs, Phil - No More Songs
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- Ochs, Phil - Do What I Have To Do
- Ochs, Phil - Ballad Of Billie Sol
- Ochs, Phil - Colored Town
- Ochs, Phil - My Kingdom For A Car
- Ochs, Phil - Jim Dean Of Indiana
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- Ochs, Phil - I Kill Therefore I Am
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Ochs, Phil Paul Crump Comments
every judge that passed death sentence is a murder in the first degree because by definition a judgement is compus mentus and premeditated
....was rehabilitation a reason to be saved...?
Paul Crump outlived Ochs he died in October 2002. Bitterly ironic a man who campaigned against the death penalty should take his own life. There is little reason in madness but it is sad all the same.
Kieran O'Sullivan his music was his life, and mercenaries paid by the CIA nearly cut his tongue out in an attack while he was in Africa. With his voice destroyed, he felt he had nothing left.
Phil took the time to think of other souls....lovely.
The death penalty is truly a dumb idea, your pretty much killing someone because they killed someone and killing is wrong. It just doesn't make sense. I love this song
+Joseph Nypower check out phil ochs's Iron Maiden song its quite awesome anti death penalty song :) this one is also good :)
+Joseph Nypower but it dose make sence in a way if you understand how their logic works, the nation state demands a monopoly on violence and when that is challenged a display of how supperior the states capability for violence is compared to a individuals needs to be made. it dosnt realy mater to the state if they are guilty or inocent just that an example is made.
or to put it another way the nation state is one massive hostage scenario and the hostage takers cant risk the hostages thinking that maybe they can overpower them so whenever even minor resistance or violence is offered a firm swift and terrifying response is required
Its also more expensive to give the death sentence because of all the cost that goes into the appeals