working the mines in the north country
i never knew trouble, it never knew me
till i found a body by the back of my claim
deep in debt, i was a desperate man
what i did next, i hadn’t planned
i took his wallet and i took his name
his purse of gold, was no use to him
where i stood that made me next of kin
chorus
the sun comes up, the sun goes down
i see no shadow and i hear no sound
i’m lying six foot down
cause i took another man’s name
bought a horse and i headed west
a fancy suit - a silk vest
i looked pretty good for a man who was dead
troopers bailed me - i had nothing to hide
took my papers - seemed satisfied
next thing i felt was a gun at my head
wanted for murder, the man who’s name i bore
robbed a bank, left three dead on the floor
i told the truth - they only laughed
i threw the body down an old mine shaft
knew i was dead before the trial had begun
my innocence was a hopeless task
though the killer he wore a mask
ten men swore on the bible i was the one
i wore the noose for someone else’s crime
first man to die a second time