Ellis Unit 1 Chords & Lyrics - Mark Erelli

[INTRO]
[C] [F] [G] [C]

[VERSE]
[C]I was fresh out of the service
It was [F]back in ‘82
And I [C]raised some Cain when I [G]came back to [F]town
I [C]meant to be all I could be
Come [F]home without a clue
[C]Married Dawn and [G]had to settle [C]down
So I [C]hired on at the prison
Guess I [F]always knew I would
Just [C]like my dad and [G]both my uncles [F]done
[C]Worked on every cell block
Now, [F]things're going good
Then they [C]transferred me to [G]Ellis Unit [C]One

[CHORUS]
[F]Swing [G]low
[C]Swing [F]low
Swing low and [G]carry me [C]home

[VERSE]
My [C]daddy used to talk about them [F]long nights at the walls
And [C]how they used to [G]strap 'em in the [F]chair
The [C]kids down from the college and they'd [F]bring their beer ‘n all
When the [C]lights went out, a [G]cheer rose in the [F]air
I guess [C]folks just got too civilized
Old [F]Sparky's gathering dust
[C]No one wants to [G]touch a smoking [F]gun
[C]They got that injection now
They don't [F]mind as much, I guess
[C]Put ‘em down on [G]Ellis Unit [C]One

[CHORUS]
[F]Swing [G]low
[C]Swing [F]low
Swing low and [G]carry me [C]home

[VERSE]
Well, I've [C]seen 'em fight like lions, boys
I've [F]seen 'em go like lambs
And I've [C]helped to drag 'em [G]when they could not [F]stand
And I've [C]heard their mamas crying when they [F]heard that big door slam
[C]I've seen the victim's [G]family's holding [C]hands
Last [C]night I dreamed that I woke up with [F]straps across my chest
And [C]something cold and black [G]pulling through my [F]lungs
Even [C]Jesus couldn't save me though I [F]know he did his best
But [C]he don't live on [G]Ellis Unit [C]One

[CHORUS]
[F]Swing [G]low
[C]Swing [F]low
Swing low and [G]carry me [C]home

[CHORUS]
[F]Swing [G]low
[C]Swing [F]low
Swing low and [G]carry me [C]home