Song Description

An inmate on death row, a politician and an average citizen: three vignettes on capital punishment. Serious and thought-provoking with acapella intro, guitar and cello

Lyrics

Saint or Sinner

Don't sinners need our mercy more than saints do
Don't fallen angels dream of taking flight
Aren't we all out there searching for redemption
And the chance to make things right

The prisoner's cell is eight by twelve
He fills up the space with pages of truth and remorse
Sizing up a life gone way off course
He describes the scene for the magazine
In a last act of faith to make just one kid stop and think
He's afraid there's not enough ink
Meet John Doe
On death row

Across the state the hand of fate
Closes the file and signs off on one last review
Oh what's a governor to do
He recalls a time back in his prime
When he still had his dreams and it seemed all his choices were clear
Now here he is in election year
And he's no saint
That he ain't

Don't sinners need our mercy more than saints do
Don't fallen angels dream of taking flight
Aren't we all out there searching for redemption
And the chance to make things right

Oh saint or sinner
It's a fine line growing ever thinner

The evening news brings on the blues
For the living room king on hearing that someone will die
He feels bad but he's not sure why
Then just as quick with a single click
He's back at the helm in the realm of the reality show
Now who will stay and who will go
It's the final round
He turns up the sound

Don't sinners need our mercy more than saints do
Don't fallen angels dream of taking flight
Aren't we all out there searching for redemption
And the chance to make things right

Aren't we all out there searching for redemption
And the chance to make things right