Phil Ochs The Iron Lady Lyrics

Have you seen the iron lady's charms
Legs of steel, leather on her arms
Takin' on a man to die
A life for a life, an eye for an eye
And that's the iron lady in the chair

Stop the murder, deter the crimes away
Only killing shows killing doesn't pay
Yes, that's the kind of law it takes
Even though we make mistakes
And sometimes send the wrong man to the chair

In the death row waiting for their turn
No time to change, not a chance to learn
Waiting for someone to call, say it's over after all
They won't have to face the justice of the chair

Just before they serve him one last meal
Shave his head, oh, they ask him how he feels
Then the warden comes to say goodbye
Reporters come to watch him die Watch him as he's strapped into the chair

And the chaplain, he reads the final prayer
Be brave my son, the Lord is waiting there
Oh, murder is so wrong you see
Both the Bible and the courts agree
That the state's allowed to murder in the chair

In the courtroom, watch the balance of the scales
If the price is right, there's time for more appeals
The strings are pulled, the switch is stayed
The finest lawyers fees are paid
And a rich man's never died upon the chair

Have you seen the iron lady's charms
Legs of steel, leather on her arms
Takin' on a man to die
A life for a life, an eye for an eye
And that's the iron lady in the chair