Text: Loretta Lynn. Van Lear Rose. Women's Prison.

I'm in a women's prison with bars all around
I caught my darlin cheatin thats when I shot him down
I caught him in a honky-tonk with a girl I used to know
The door to my cell is open wide and a voice cries out oh no

The judge says I'm guilty my sentence is to die
I know I've been forgiven but the price of love is high

The crowd outside is screamin' let the murderer die But above all their voices I
can hear my mama cry

I'm sittin' here on death row and Lord I've lost my mind
For love I've killed my darlin and for love I'll lose my life

I can hear the warden coming From the clinging of his keys
But when they come to get me He'll have to drag me off my kness
The door to my cell swings open It's time for me to go
The priest is reading my last rights He says dying's part of livin' ya know

And there's a crowd outside screamin' let that murderer fry
But above all their voices You can hear my mama cry

Now they've strapped me in the chair And covered up my eyes
And the last voice I hear on Earth Is my mama's cry