E 
I was fresh out of the service  
       A 
It was back in ?82  
E                         B            A 
I raised some Cain when I came back to town  
E 
Meant to be all I could be  
A 
Come home without a clue  
E                B              E 
Married Dawn and had to settle down  
     E 
So I hired on at the prison  
         A 
Guess I always knew I would  
E                    B              A 
Just like my dad and both my uncles done  
E 
Worked on every cell block  
     A 
Now, things're goin' good  
          E                 B          E 
Then they transferred me to Ellis Unit One  
A     B 
Swing low  
E     A 
Swing low  
              B        E   A  B  E   A  B  E 
Swing low and carry me home  
E                                      A 
Now, my daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls  
    E                B                 A 
And how they used to strap ?em in the chair  
E                                  A 
The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer ?n all  
E                           B                 A 
When the lights went out, a cheer rose in the air  
         E 
I guess  folks just got too civilized  
A 
Old Sparky's gatherin' dust  
E               B               A 
No one wants to touch a smokin' gun  
E 
Ehey got that injection  now 
           A 
They don't mind as much, I guess  
E               B7         E 
Put ?em down on Ellis Unit One  
A     B 
Swing low  
E     A 
Swing low  
              B        E  A  B  E   A   B   E  
Swing low and carry me home  
E 
Well, I've seen ?em fight like lions, boys  
A 
I've seen 'em go like lambs  
E                           B                   A 
And I've helped to drag ?em when they could not stand  
E                                           A 
And I've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam  
E                      B                E 
I've seen the victim's family's holdin' hands  
E                                        A 
Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest  
E                            B                  A 
And something cold and black pullin' through my lungs  
E                                    A 
Even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best  
       E              B         E 
But he don't live on Ellis Unit One  
A     B 
Swing low  
E     A 
Swing low  
              B        E 
Swing low and carry me home  
A     B 
Swing low  
E     A 
Swing low  
              B        E 
Swing low and carry me home