Mama loved him best You know, Papa favored him too Well who am I to criticize, brother? I would have too Alex was a gentle boy He did what our mama said ‘Til he felt a chill and wrapped his scarf up tight ‘Round the tree that hung him dead Climbed that tree as a child Brother, you and I were wild See it from my cell instead Where you were strung up high I can feel your ghost nearby Soon to join you in the dead Oh, once I read the good book I saw why they’d lay blame That you were my Abel But I could never be your Cain Not your keeper, not my shame Fault your own hands you were slain Mama loved him best You know, Papa favored him too Well who am I to criticize, brother? I would have too Oh, once I read the good book I saw why they’d lay blame That you were my Abel But I could never be your Cain Not your keeper, not my shame Fault your own hands you were slain Mama loved him best You know, Papa favored him too By how much I never knew ‘til they testified for you By how much I never knew ‘til they convicted me for you By how much, now I know, while I rot here on death row Forgive me, brother Tell Jesus hello Lend me your scarf, brother I am cold