Prison Song

One day a friend took me aside
And said "I have to leave you
For buying something from a friend
They say I′ve done wrong
For protecting the name of a man
They say I'll have to leave you
So now I′m bidding you farewell
For much too long"

And here's a song to sing
For every man inside
If he can hear you sing
It's an open door
There′s not a rich man there
Who couldn′t pay his way
And buy the freedom
That's a high price for the poor

Kids in Texas
Smoking grass
Ten year sentence
Comes to pass
Misdemeanor
In Ann Arbor
Ask the judges
Why?

Another friend said to her kids
"I′m gonna have to leave you
For selling something to the man
I guess I did wrong
And although I did the best I could
I'm gonna have to leave you
So now I′m kissing you farewell
For much too long"

And here's a song to sing
For every man inside
If he can hear you sing
It′s an open door
There's not a rich man there
Who couldn't pay his way
And buy the freedom
That′s a high price for the poor