San Quentin,
you've been
livin' hell to me
You've galled at me
since nineteen
sixty three
I've seen 'em
come and go and
I've seen them die
And long ago I
stopped askin' why
San Quentin,
I hate ev'ry
inch of you
You've cut me and
you've scarred me
through an' through
And I'll walk out
a wiser,
weaker man
Mister Congressman,
why can't you
understand?
San Quentin,
what good do you
think you do?
Do you think that
I'll be different when
you're through?
You bend my heart
and mind and
you warp my soul
Your stone walls
turn my blood
a little cold
San Quentin,
may you rot and
burn in hell
May your walls
fall and may I
live to tell
May all the world
forget you
ever stood
And the whole world
will regret you
did no good
San Quentin,
you've been livin'
hell to me