I was guilty as hell

And the weight of my judgment was thick in the air

I sat there ashamed

And I knew good and well that the right man was blamed

I was guilty as hell


I still remember the feeling of steel

Of my flesh on that trigger, my red rage was real

No one else placed that cold gun in my hand

The gun can’t be faulted

The guilt was, the guilt is the man’s


He was purest of white

No spot on His record, a Judge with no guile

Unbiased and right

His courtroom’s the place where all injustice dies


When I heard the gavel

I knew what was next

The first word was guilty

The last word was death

no words and no language

Could adequate tell

The feel of the fatal

I was guilty as hell


My legs lost all feeling

Regret came like fire

Forgot about breathing

Remembered my crimes

What I would not give now to go back in time

But time is the one thing

That’s no friend of mine


Tears filled my lap with my head in my hands

The last thing I thought that I’d hear was that man

There in that courtroom where justice had reigned

The same voice that cried, “guilty”, called out, “Son

Son, what is your name?”


I said, “some call me worthless, some chiefest of sin

But no one in heaven or hell calls me friend”

That judge left his chair, dropped his gavel, and wept

And I’ve no explanation for what happened next

He said, “I’m more free than all liberty’s sons

And I’ve wrestled the devil and a thousand times won

And I’ve always told truth, and truth always told me


That I can pour grace upon even sin’s chief

But I won’t forfeit justice, I love right and fair

So what I can offer is, son

I’m gonna sit in your chair


I said “Judge, let me bleed

For the things that I’ve done”

He said, “blood will be shed

But it won’t be your blood

Your crimes are now mine, and I own every one

I know you’ll say, “Judge it’s not fair

Well, Son... Let Me introduce you to love”


I was guilty as hell