OLD PRISON (Gabe Zander/BMI) 2002

This song is for an old friend of mine named "Punk Rock Steve" McHugh, sent to Rahway State Prison on a technicality,
convicted of a charge so disgusting that I won't mention what it exactly was, convicted even though the "victim's" story 
matched his that it was a big misunderstanding. The crew and I pray for a safe return home. The "Old Prison" the song speaks
of is the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in Newton, NJ, where Steve was in about every other weekend before he was finally
sent away, almost always for petty mischief.

(slow waltz beat)

              D                       G             D      D          A             D
Well, there's not much to say for the times that we had, except not a whole lot has changed;
   D                      G           D        Bm              A     D
We still sit around after workin' all day, get drunk, and play video games.
          D                            G            D                D           A             D
Well, the record store's gone, but the bar is still there, where the trash go to take in their fill,
         D                       G            D    Bm                  A           D
And that ugly brown building you used to call home still stands at the foot of the hill.

(chorus):

Well, the old prison, old prison, stands at the foot of the hill;
Yeah, the old prison, old prison, stands at the foot of the hill.

My brother, my brother, you've done nothing wrong, so what made them treat you this way?
Election was coming, so they had to look tough, and "make all them criminals pay".
But you ain't no criminal, at least like I've seen; I've known worst of the worst all my life,
But they gave the illusion that you were so bad, it should haunt you for the rest of your life.

(chorus)
(break)

My brother, my brother, when you walk out free, we'll have times like we had long ago,
But till that day comes, I'll just pray for your best, and tell everyone you said hello.
We'll get back to the women we never let go, and take 'em down to the bar by the 'Kill,
Then we'll head downtown, and we'll mock the old prison, standing at the foot of the hill.  

(chorus)