JOE BEAN
(Bud Freeman / Leon Pober)
Johnny Cash - 1966


Well they're hangin' Joe Bean this mornin' for killin' a man in 
Arkansas
Funny thing about it Joe Bean never even heard of the man
In fact Joe Bean never has been to Arkansas
And to top that all today is Joe Bean's 20th birthday
See where the gallows stand Joe Bean see where the gallows stand
Just twenty short years from the day you were born you'll die by the 
hangman's hand

They're hangin' Joe Bean this mornin' for a shootin' that he never did
He killed twenty men by the time he was ten he was an unruly kid
But they're hangin' Joe Bean for the one shootin' that he never did
See through the prison bars Joe Bean see where the gallows stand
Just twenty short years from the day you were born you'll die by the 
hangman's hand

Well your mother's in capitol city asking Governor Simms for a stay
And it's really hard on her cause she knows
Where you were on that particular day
You were workin' Joe Bean hard workin' robbing the Santa Fe
Well the telegraph wires're hummin' hear the Governor's words come 
through
I can't set you free cause it's not up to me but this much Joe Bean 
I'll do
I'll join your mother in extending birthday greetings to you
Happy birthday Joe Bean happy birthday Joe Bean
Happy birthday dear Joe happy birthday to you