[Intro-sounds of metal clanking]
[Verse 1]
Down at the county, the walls are high,
They locked away men who made others die.
The papers called it the devil’s den,
But inside those bars, they were just like men.
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[Chorus]
It’s the strangest thing I ever saw,
The worst of men obeyed one law:
If you treat a killer like he’s your friend,
You’ll laugh together ‘til the very end.
[Verse 2]
The butcher from Boston played a mean guitar,
The outlaw from Texas sang like a star.
The banker’s son beat a man in a fight,
But he told good jokes in the cellblock at night.
⸻
[Chorus]
It’s the strangest thing I ever saw,
The worst of men obeyed one law:
If you treat a killer like he’s your friend,
You’ll laugh together ‘til the very end.
⸻
[Verse 3]
They’d play cards late ‘til the warden came,
Trading old stories, never feeling shame.
A thief from the city taught them dice,
And the preacher’s son gave them all advice.
⸻
[Chorus]
It’s the strangest thing I ever saw,
The worst of men obeyed one law:
If you treat a killer like he’s your friend,
You’ll laugh together ‘til the very end.
[Verse 4]
When fights broke out, they’d break them fast,
No man there was allowed to clash.
Said, “We done wrong, but we’ll do right here,”
And the jailhouse rang with a kind of cheer.
⸻
[Chorus – Repeat]
It’s the strangest thing I ever saw,
The worst of men obeyed one law:
If you treat a killer like he’s your friend,
You’ll laugh together ‘til the very end.
⸻
[Bridge]
Now the gates may close, the nights are long,
But behind those bars, there’s a brotherhood strong.
Not a soul outside would believe the scene,
Where the darkest hearts found a place to dream.
⸻
[Final Chorus]
It’s the strangest thing I ever saw,
The worst of men obeyed one law:
If you treat a killer like he’s your friend,
You’ll laugh together ‘til the very end.