Lynchin' Party

The lynch mob gathered in the square across from the jail
Young Billy watched them from his cell and felt his courage fail
Bill swore he wasn't guilty but the evidence was plain

Tomorrow he would go on trial for killing Mary Jane
They shouted, feed the prisoner hardy, we're gonna have a lynchin' party
Gonna hang him high, watch him die for killing Mary Jane

The mob is closer to the jail excitement all around
The deputies kept moving back, afraid to hold their ground
Then the young girl cried, you cowards

But the lynch mob surged ahead
Dragged young Billy from that jail and soon the kid was dead
They shouted, feed the prisoner hardy, we're gonna have
a lynchin'party

The weeks went by and no one spoke about it anymore
Or seemed to see the wreath, Billy's mother hung upon the door
Then one night they dragged a ragged hobo from a train

And he confessed he was the one who killed young Mary Jane
They shouted, beat the prisoner hardy
Gonna hang him high, watch him die for killing Mary Jane