"This is a protest song, probably the first one I ever wrote. It's an interesting song because a lot of (people) took it literally. And they never heard the last line that says, 'but remember, they're going to hang you, too'. They missed that." There's a murderer in your town Mister There were seven unsolved last year There's a murderer in your town Mister How long has he been living here? If they hang 'em all they get the guilty If they hang 'em all they cannot miss If they hang 'em all they get the guilty Been a lot of problem solved like this. There's a thief in your town Mister This morning my milk was gone There's a thief in your town Mister How long has this been going on? If they hang 'em all they get the guilty If they hang 'em all they cannot miss If they hang 'em all they get the guilty Been a lot of problem solved like this. There's a cheater in your town Mister Last night I saw him in a bar There's a cheater in your town Mister Is that the kind of people you are? If they hang 'em all they get the guilty If they hang 'em all they cannot miss If they hang 'em all they get the guilty Been a lot of problem solved like this. There's a hypocrite in your town Mister I think I caught him in a lie There's a hypocrite in your town Mister Are you gonna let that go by? If they hang 'em all they get the guilty That's what you say we ought to do If they hang 'em all they get the guilty But remember they're gonna hang you too. If they hang 'em all they get the guilty If they hang 'em all they cannot miss If they hang 'em all they get the guilty Been a lot of problem solved like this...