The warden led a prisoner down the hallway to his doom I stood up to say goodbye like all the rest & I heard him tell the warden just before he reached my cell "Let my guitar-playin' friend do my request" "Let him sing me back home, a song I used to hear Make my old mem'ries come to life Take me away & turn back the years Sing me back home before I die" I recall a Sunday morning a choir from on the street Came in to sing a few old gospel songs & I heard him tell the singer "There's a song my mama sang Could I hear it once before you move along?" "Won't you sing me back home, a song I used to hear Make my old mem'ries down to lie Take me away & turn back the years Sing me back home before I die"