[Verse 1]
It claws on his back, it will never let him be
Stares at the walls until the cinder blocks can breathe
His eyes have gone away, escaping over time
He rules a crowded nation inside his mind

[Verse 2]
He knows that night like his hand
He knows every move he made
Late shift, the bell that rang, the time card won't fade
10:05 his truck pulled home, 10:05 he climbed his stair
About the time he was accused of being there

[Chorus]
But I'm not the man
He goes free
As I wait on the row
For the man to test the rope
He'll slip around my throat
And silence me

[Verse 3]
Oh, on the day he was tried no witness testified
Nothing but evidence, not hard to falsify
His own confession was a prosecutor's prize
Made up of fear, of rage and of outright lies
[Chorus]
But I'm not the man
He goes free
As the candle vigil glows
As they burn my clothes
As the crowd cries, "hang him slow!"
And I feel my blood go cold
He goes free

[Verse 4]
Call out the KKK​, they're wild after me
And with that frenzied look of half-demented zeal
They'd love to serve me up my final meal

[Outro]
Who'll read my final rite
And hear my last appeal?
Who struck this devil's deal?