25 Minutes to Go Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Well they're building a gallows outside my cell
And I've got 25 minutes to go
And the whole town's waiting just to hear me yell
I got 24 minutes to go
Well they gave me some beans for my last meal
With 23 minutes to go
But nobody asked me how I feel
I got 22 minutes to go
Well I sent for the Governor and the whole dern bunch
With 21 minutes to go
And 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
So I laughed in his face and I spit in his eye
With 18 minutes to go
[Verse 2]
Now here comes the preacher for to save my soul
With 13 minutes to go
And he's talking about burning, but I'm so cold
12 more minutes to go
Now they're testing the trap and it chills my spine
11 more minutes to go
And the trap and the rope aw they work just fine
With 10 more minutes to go
Well I'm waiting on the pardon that'll set me free
With 9 more minutes to go
But this is for real so forget about me
With 8 more minutes to go
Well they're building a gallows outside my cell
And I've got 25 minutes to go
And the whole town's waiting just to hear me yell
I got 24 minutes to go
Well they gave me some beans for my last meal
With 23 minutes to go
But nobody asked me how I feel
I got 22 minutes to go
Well I sent for the Governor and the whole dern bunch
With 21 minutes to go
And 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
So I laughed in his face and I spit in his eye
With 18 minutes to go
[Verse 2]
Now here comes the preacher for to save my soul
With 13 minutes to go
And he's talking about burning, but I'm so cold
12 more minutes to go
Now they're testing the trap and it chills my spine
11 more minutes to go
And the trap and the rope aw they work just fine
With 10 more minutes to go
Well I'm waiting on the pardon that'll set me free
With 9 more minutes to go
But this is for real so forget about me
With 8 more minutes to go
[Verse 3]
With my feet on the trap and my head on the noose
5 more minutes to go
Won't somebody come and cut me loose
4 more minutes to go
I can see the mountains I can see the skies
With 3 more minutes to go
And it's too dern pretty for a man to don't want to die
With 2 more minutes to go
I can see the buzzards I can hear the crows
1 more minute to go
And now I'm swinging and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
With my feet on the trap and my head on the noose
5 more minutes to go
Won't somebody come and cut me loose
4 more minutes to go
I can see the mountains I can see the skies
With 3 more minutes to go
And it's too dern pretty for a man to don't want to die
With 2 more minutes to go
I can see the buzzards I can hear the crows
1 more minute to go
And now I'm swinging and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
About
Genius Annotation
The song is originally made by Shel Silverstein, from his 1962 album Inside Folk Songs.
Cash’s cover, as usual the most known one, appears on both Sings the Ballads of the True West and on his 1968 live album, At Folsom Prison.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Hey Porter
- 5.Get Rhythm
- 10.Doin’ My Time
- 11.Big River
- 15.Thanks a Lot
- 16.Oh, What A Dream
- 17.What Do I Care
- 18.All Over Again
- 25.Pickin’ Time
- 27.The Old Account
- 33.The Big Battle
- 39.I Got Stripes
- 40.25 Minutes to Go
- 41.The Wall
- 42.Busted
- 43.Bad News
- 46.Ring of Fire
- 48.Jackson
- 49.Blistered
- 50.See Ruby Fall
- 52.Daddy Sang Bass
- 56.A Boy Named Sue
- 57.Wanted Man
- 59.Man in Black
- 60.What Is Truth
- 61.Flesh and Blood
- 63.Oney
- 68.No Expectations
- 70.Bull Rider
- 72.After The Ball
- 73.Without Love
- 74.The Last Time
Credits
Producer
Writers
Released in
1965
25 Minutes to Go Is A Cover Of
Tags
Comments
Sign Up And Drop Knowledge 🤓
Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love.