Pat Wictor

Outside the cats are scratching, Inside the doors are latching
On the room, the greedy gloom, the trial is revealed      
Police are six feet deep, with switchblades in their teeth
So no one leaves and they all believe
This is absolutely real, yes, it's real  
And the Sergeant says, "Are you ready, boys?
Get ready, boys.
Aim... And Fire...

Order in the court, People ready for the sport
They squirm and squeak and lick their beaks, and grease their feathers down
Everybody rise, Judge is here with bathroom eyes
A Grizzly bear, he hugs his chair
And the greedy gavel pounds, yes, it pounds
And the Sergeant says, "Are you ready, boys?
Get ready, boys
Aim... And Fire...  

In the dungeon he falls, writing appeals upon the wall
And the priest in prayer is not even there, so precious is his time
To the stake he's tied, the swallows sing, the triggers slide
He bids goodbye to the watery sky that plunges from his mind, from his mind
And the Sergeant says, "Are you ready, boys?
Get ready, boys
Aim... And Fire...  

PW:  acoustic and electric guitars, vocals
Chico Huff:  bass
Cheryl Prashker:  drums
spectator chorus:  Ciara Barratt, Glenn Barratt, Lizanne Knott, PW

written by Phil Ochs (Barricade Music Inc./ASCAP, admin. by Almo Music Corp)