They sent me to this prison for a crime I did outside

I killed a man and didn't hang but I might as well have died

For every minute that I live I know that death may call

You see his brother's here with me right inside these walls

And I don't even know his face but I'm sure that he knows mine

The eyes of death are watchin' me just bidin' his time (oh Lord he takes his time)

Each night they slam my lonely cell and turn the lights down low

And I can't close my eyes to sleep because somewhere I know

He's planning how he'll drive the knife into my poundin' heart

And Lord this just not knowing when will tear a man apart

He's just a number not a name and you'll get me from behind

The eyes of death are watchin' me just bidin' his time (oh Lord he takes his time)

Sometimes I think I'll try to walk and face the deadly guns

I'd either die or I'd be free to leave this place and run

This man he swore to make me pay but he'd rather see me cry

So he'll just play around with me while I wait to die

No prison ever held the man with a sentence just like mine

The eyes of death are watchin' me just bidin' his time (oh Lord he takes his time)

He's bidin' his time (oh Lord he takes his time) he's just bidin' his time