25 Minutes To Go
(Dutch Version: 20 Minuten Geduld - 1968)
Composer(s): Shel Silverstein
First release by: Shel Silverstein - 1962
Covered by multiple other artists



Well, they're buildin' a gallows outside my cell
I've got 25 minutes to go
And the whole town's waitin' just to hear me yell
I got 24 minutes to go
Well, they gave me some beans for my last meal
I got 23 minutes to go
But nobody asks me how I feel
I got 22 minutes to go
Well I sent for the Governor and the whole darned bunch
With 21 minutes to go
And I sent for the Mayor, but he's out to lunch
I got 20 more minutes to go
Then the sheriff said, "Boy, I'm gonna watch you die"
Got 19 minutes to go
So I laughed in his face and I spit in his eye
Got 18 minutes to go

Now here comes the preacher for to save my soul
With 13 minutes to go
And he's talking 'bout burning, but I'm so cold
I got 12 more minutes to go
Now they're testin' a trap and it chills my spine
With 11 more minutes to go
And the trap and the rope, oh, they work just fine
Got 10 more minutes to go
Well I'm waitin' for the pardon that'll set me free
With 9 more minutes to go
But this is for real, so forget about me
Got 8 more minutes to go

With my feet on the trap and my head in the noose
Got 5 more minutes to go
Won't somebody come and cut me loose
Got 4 more minutes to go
I can see the mountains, I can see the sky
3 more minutes to go
And it's too darned pretty for a man to die
I got 2 more minutes to go
I can see the buzzards, I can hear the crows
1 more minute to go
And now I'm swingin' and here I go-o-o-o-o-o