Soul Of A Convict Lyrics - Porter Wagoner

(Will he take the soul of a convict could I be one of those he choosed) 

I was taught the Bible from childhood at my mother's knee I learned to pray 

I was taught of God and all his goodness and the devil and his evil ways 

There's good in the bad and bad in the good and there's none that's free from sin 

But there's some questions I've wondered about 

What happens to the men who die in the pen 

Just imagine yourself the judge God Almighty as you gaze over all these men 

When death takes its toll what becomes of the soul of the men who die in the pen 

Do you think of God that's true and just could look from his heavenly throne 

And be pleased to see men placed in chains and stripes 

And tucked from their loved ones at home 

Worked until they're completely axhuasted and your soul cries out in vain 

Fed like a hog and treated like a dog and at night to the bed you're chained 

Worked from sunup to sundown through all kinds of weather 

And if you don't do the things just right you get introduced to the leather 

Now you see it's not the pain I mind so much as I'm stretched out on the floor 

It's just the thought that I can't do my part that's what breaks my heart 

You see I'm just not man enough anymore 

Oh there are a lotta other things I could tell you that you'd marvel at and say 

Why I didn't know in those modern times they treated men that way but they do 

That's why I ask you do you think that God could turn with a sneer and frown 

At the men who die in the pen do you think he'll turn us down 

I believe there's a heaven and a hell and in God I put my trust 

That's why I'm askin' these questions I believe he's true and just 

And I just imagine he'll tell me as we meet at the golden stairs 

Hell's not just meant for some of the men who die in the pen 

But for some who have mistreated them there 

You see we're payin' for the mistakes we made in our sins 

As we've had our troubles in life 

Because we're the underdogs of humanity and surely God won't make us pay twice 

I believe on that Day of Judgement he'll have this convict called in 

And he'll say it's true hell's not for you you had your hell in the pen