Jim Adams is the gracious host of Song Lyric Sunday. Jim says:
This week the prompt is Minutes/Hours/Days/Weeks/Months, which was suggested by Felicia Denise. This prompt may seem familiar, as Helen Vahdati had a similar one back on June 17, 2018 being Seconds/minutes/hours. I ask again for you to be patient, and wait for me to approve your pingbacks, or place your link in the comments.
Here are the “rules”:
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Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
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Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
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Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
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Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
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Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
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Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
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Feel free to suggest future prompts.
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Have fun and enjoy the music.
“25 Minutes to Go” is written by Shel Silverstein (amazing!) I first heard this song on Pearl Jam’s 2004 CD set, “Live at Benaroya Hall”, which was a fundraiser for Youth Care, a youth organization in Seattle for homeless youth. I’m also including Johnny Cash’ 1968 version Live at Folsom Prison. It’s sung in a way that sounds almost humorous, but in reality this is pretty grim stuff. The incarceration rates in the United States are shameful, way WAY more of our citizens are imprisoned than in any other nation on the face of the earth.
They’re buildin’ the gallows outside my cell.
I got 25 minutes to go.
And in 25 minutes I’ll be in Hell.
I got 24 minutes to go.
Well, they give me some beans for my last meal.
23 minutes to go.
And you know… nobody asked me how I feel.
I got 22 minutes to go.
So, I wrote to the Gov’nor… the whole damned bunch.
Ahhh… 21 minutes to go.
And I call up the Mayor, and he’s out to lunch.
I got 20 more minutes to go.
Well, the Sheriff says, “Boy, I wanna watch you die”.
19 minutes to go.
I spit in his face… and I kicked him in the eye.
I got 18 minutes to go.
Well…I call out to the Warden to hear my plea.
17 minute to go.
He says, “Call me back in a week or three.
You’ve got 16 minutes to go.”
Well, my lawyer says he’s sorry he missed my case.
Mmmm….15 minutes to go.
Yeah, well if you’re so sorry, come up and take my place.
I got 14 minutes to go.
Well, now here comes the padre to save my soul
With 13 minutes to go.
And he’s talkin’ about burnin’, but I’m so damned cold.
I got 12 more minutes to go.
Now they’re testin’ the trap. It chills my spine.
I got 11 minutes to go.
”cause the goddamned thing it works just fine.
I got 10 more minutes to go.
I’m waitin’ for the pardon… gonna set me free
With 9 more minutes to go.
But this ain’t the movies, so to hell with me.
I got 8 more minutes to go.
And now I’m climbin up the ladder with a scaffold peg
With 7 more minutes to go.
I’ve betta’ watch my step or else I’ll break my leg.
I got 6 more minutes to go.
Yeah… with my feet on the trap and my head in the noose…
5 more minutes to go.
Well, c’mon somethin’ and cut me loose.
I got 4 more minutes to go.
I can see the mountains. I see the sky.
3 more minutes to go.
And it’s too damned pretty for a man to die.
i got 2 more minutes to go
I can hear the buzzards… hear the crows.
1 more minute to go.
And now I’m swingin’ and here I gooooooooo….
Songwriters: Shel Silverstein
Tao Talk 
I have this song on my Shel Silverstein list but believe this is the first time I’ve heard it. Both versions are cool, but Johnny gets my vote. :D Thanks for the shares.
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Felicia, you suggested an excellent prompt or I wouldn’t have thought of this song. Glad you like the song and the singers :)
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Thank you! So glad you enjoyed the prompt – so much good music to share! ;)
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Yes, this prompt brought out so many great tunes.
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I love both versions of this Lisa. Thanks for sharing them 🙂🙂
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Glad you loved them, Christine! I do too.
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This is a fave! And I didn’t know it was written by Shel ~ my pick this week was also. 👍🏻
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Glad you like them, Paula :)
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Awesome song Li, I really enjoyed listening to bot versions.
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Thank you, Jim. I liked the way Eddie sang it better, but hearing the prisoners in the background of Johnny’s was powerful. Prisoners too often are forgotten once those iron gates slam shut.
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Prisons are a big problem now, as rich people with good lawyers can get short sentences in country club prisons, where as others who are less fortunate get locked up for menial crimes.
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oops both
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Interesting I’ve never heard this song before, as I’ve heard lots of Pearl Jam & Johnny Cash songs. Seems funny that Shel Silverstein wrote it. I think of him only as writing fun poems for children.
My vote goes for Pearl Jam’s version. :)
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I only heard it because it was on a live CD set. I looked at the PJ chart and they’ve only played this 3 times in public! Eddie does it up right doesn’t he.
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Who would’ve thought Shel Silverstein wrote this?!?! Love learning something new and comparing the two versions. I give the edge to Eddie’s. Thanks for sharing.
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Glad you liked it, J, and I was so surprised that Shel wrote this.
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I learned today that Shel was quite the productive song writer. Very cool what we learn with this challenge. #SLS is one of the best.
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I love this! I don’t know that I had heard it before – but I am sure that I have heard Cash’s version at some time. Really enjoyed Pearl Jam’s take on the song.
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Thanks Mary, I liked the way Eddie sang it also.
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When I first listen to the Johnny Cash version, I felt like I knew it before like on the radio. I like the Pearl Jam version better because I love Vedder’s vocals.
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I do too. From reading about the concert, it was all acoustic, which made it better for that kind of a song, I think. Glad you enjoyed them.
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Good song and I liked Vedder’s version also.
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It is really good. A testament to our criminal justice system for sure.
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Yes it is… I heard Cash’s version but never that version sung by Vedder… Whew I’m finally catching up on posts.
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I’m trying to get some posts done for the A2Z challenge that starts in April. I just finished the first one. The research is going to be fun. Time is always the issue….
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Yea and for me I’m going to one a day later this week until I can catch up at work.
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You have to do what you have to do. As long as you keep posting :)
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I will! I’ll have two tomorrow. I havent missed a day since last June.
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:) That’s what I call consistent.
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It is addicting…
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It was his reminder of the barbarity of capital punishment, a very dark song indeed, like much of his work, real.
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Well-said, Paul.
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Thanks :)
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You are welcome :)
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Hi , great choice, I have never heard it before. I didn’t like it at all, sorry. I agree it tells a tale and does it very well. Just too depressing first thing in the am. But you chose well ..🤭🌹🌹
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Thanks Willow, it is a depressing reality :(
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Yes indeed it just such an awful world we live in 💜🌹
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