Story Behind The Song

This is a story a man incarcerated at the Parchman penal farm in Mississippi for a crime that he says he didn't commit. You be the judge.

Song Description

One look at life in the deep south in the 1930's.

Lyrics

A CONVICT?S TALE


I?m standin? on this lonely back road ? Just waitin? for a ride
To take where I can free my soul and restore my pride

Lord my heart is weary and my body is so tired
( let me tell you why )

I spent nine long years down on that Parchman farm
Ball on my ankle and shackles on my arms
I done my time bent over from the load
Now I?m standin? here waitin? on this lonely back road

Now I?m rollin? down the highway headin? home ? Just takin? my time
Thinkin? ?bout everything I?ve been thru ? Ain?t no reason or no rhyme

?Cause I never was a guilty man and I never done no crime
( this is how it went down )

The jury give the verdict and then the gavel fell
Whatever really happened ? Nobody let me tell
Time passed slowly and my mind did roam
Now I?m rollin? down the highway on my way back home

Trouble ain?t gonna hound me no more ? Rest of my days
Ain?t gonna hang round no barroom door ? Done changed my ways

?Cause the devil is inside there and he?s bound to make you pay
( and that?s the truth )

My mama she done told me not to go down to town
She told me it was trouble and trouble I found
It started when I walked thru that barroom door
But trouble ain?t gonna come and hound ME NO MORE


Music by Don Merritt
Lyrics by Stevie DuPree
DosOlDudes Music 2005