v.1
^GWell they're buildin a gallows outside my cell, I got 25 minutes to ^Dgo
And the ^Dwhole town's waitin' just to hear me yell, with 24 minutes to ^Ggo
Well they gave me some beans for my last meal, with 23 mintues to go
But nobody asked me how I feel, I got 22 minutes to go

v.2:
Well I sent for the governor and the whole dern bunch, with 21 minutes to go
An' I called up 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", with 19 minutes to go
Oh I laughed in his face and spit in his eye, I got 18 minutes to go

v.3
Now here comes the preacher for to save my soul, I got 13 minutes to go
And he's talkin' bout burnin, but I'm so cold, with 12 more minutes to go
Well they tested the trap and it chills my spine, 11 more minutes to go
Ah, the trap and the rope, well they work just fine, I got 10 more minutes to go

v.4
Well I'm waitin' for the pardon that'll set me free, with 9 more minutes to go
But this ain't the movies, so forget about me, I got 8 more monutes to go
With my feet on the trap and my head in the noose, 5 more minutes to go
Won't somebody come by and cut me loose? I got 4 more minutes to go

v.5
I can see the mountains, I can see the sky, with 3 more minutes to go
And it's too durned purty for a man's gonna die, 2 more minutes to go
I can see the buzzards, I can hear the crows, I got 1 more minute to go
And now I'm swingin' and here I go--wo--wo--wo