I look up and see an unnerving gaze
From the Old Man in the Moon.
He’ll witness a man whose life hangs
In the balance, and sure will leave
Him soon.

I’ve seen it before too many times
As these limbs sway in the breeze.
For more than these limbs sway in
The wind on this old hickory.

The horse is slapped and the rope
Goes tight, and another man fights
For air.
He struggles as he dangles with all his might
For that last breath that just isn’t there.

Some people below shake their hands
And boast that justice was done this day--
Still others below shake their heads, say
Nothing and regretfully turn away.

It was the break of dawn one cool
Spring morning in the year of ‘75.
There’s commotion in the forest as
A man is dragged, beaten badly and
Barely alive.

Hands behind his back, he’s thrown on
A horse, and a noose is thrown over his
Head.
He looks up at me, the old hickory tree,
But I know he’s as good as dead--
He knows he’s as good as dead--
And they know he’s as good as dead.

As long as I’ll live, I’ll never forget
That morning in ‘75;
When against all odds a man that is
Hanged gets a second chance at life.
He’s cut down by a woman who knows
He is innocent--
And they ride away on a horse called Vengeance
To exact their own punishment,
Avenge the innocent,
And to tip the scales a bit...