On the night they killed Faye Tucker
I was gambling away my last dime
Well I pulled down the lever
And I sent up a prayer
That my luck would not be denied

My luck would not be denied

Roll out the head of Faye Tucker
And never you mind what they say
You may be reborn but its all just for scorn
And that's what you'll take to the grave
That's what you'll take to the grave

Well the minister wants you to live now
And the governor wants you to fry
And whatever it was that you thought might occur
They got something else in their minds

The got something else in their minds

If you live they gonna make you a campaigner
If you die they gonna make you a grave
Either way it goes down
Well your life's not your own

And that's why killin' don't pay
That's why killin' don't pay

I thought I heard the angel's bells
But they were just the hounds of hell

What did you learn Faye Tucker
What will take from this world

Well mercy could prove us
But nothing would move us

To rise above just being cruel
To rise above just being cruel


Lyrics submitted by aur0ra

Faye Tucker Lyrics as written by Emily Ann Saliers Amy Elizabeth Ray

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Faye Tucker song meanings
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    General Comment

    I love this song, even though I am not against the death penalty. I remember this case and how George W.( then governor of TX) couldn't wait to execute her but that many people spoke up for her, including conservative Pat Robertson (the "minister" in the song). I love the verse starting with "if you live they're gonna make you a campaigner". It is about how different sides of a political debate jump onto a peronal private thing, like a murder and execution, and use it to promote thier own cause. Musicaly, this song is outstanding. The Celtic-sounding reels of fiddle make it sound like a banshee keening for an approaching death. chilling.

    amymonkeyon October 06, 2007   Link

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