john was hardly more than a bewildered observer at his own trial...

Lyrics

"lee," the sergeant said to me, "acting on my discretion, it is my solemn duty to arrest you on suspicion", they put me in a carriage, i was driven many miles, they locked me in a prison cell to await my trial, john 'babbacombe' lee, john 'babbacombe' lee, the man who'd defend me was ill and couldn't come, his brother came to lend me help and i knew i was undone, "do just what you want with me, i don't have a choice, you'd do as well without me as i'm not allowed to use my voice", the judge sits high and mighty and he asks me who i am, the robes he wears impress me but he looks a kindly man, "to all who've come to see me, for those that'd prove me guilty, may the joker hear your call and show you all more mercy", john 'babbacombe' lee, john 'babbacombe' lee, john 'babbacombe' lee, john 'babbacombe' lee, the trial was quickly over and my head was full of pain, i was slowly going crazy with the same story over again, i was tired and aching, i was standing half asleep, all i wanted was to take the weight from off my feet, john 'babbacombe' lee, john 'babbacombe' lee, the jury filed in slowly while we waited their command, "courage, john, you're helpless and you are in heaven's hand", john lee's not scared of dying, there's a smile in all you'll find, cradled in a deep sleep with a perfect peace of mind, i cannot blame the jury, on the evidence they heard, it seemed that i was guilty, hanged by too many words, i smiled in front of people so i told them what it meant, i trust the lord in heaven and he knows i'm innocent, john 'babbacombe' lee, john 'babbacombe' lee, there's a tiny little window and the sun comes shining through, dancing with the dust that's in my cell, there's a sparrow sitting on the sill and he stays for a minute or two, but he's frightened by the ringing of the bell, there's a bed that i must lie on when at night i take my rest, and a chair for me to sit on through the day, the men who wait beside me always know what's best, for a man who doesn't have too much to say, throw a laugh into the corner, blow a tear against the wall, learn a game to play, improve the mind, confess your sins, you sinners, see how the seconds fall, leave all earthly cares and woes behind, and when my short affair with life is ended and i'm gone, will you tell the world the story of john lee?, all you see is nothing and yet everything lives on, i was born to pay the hangman's fee