"Last time we were here at Folsom Prison, they were hanging Joe Bean. Is Joe still here...Joe Bean? Hang the son of a bitch anyways, right?"

[Spoken Word]
Well, they're hanging Joe Bean this morning, for killing a man in Arkansas. Funny thing about it, Joe Bean has never been to Arkansas. On top of that, Joe Bean never heard of the man. In fact, today is Joe Bean's twentieth birthday...

See through the prison bars, Joe Bean
See where the gallows stand
Just twеnty short years from the day you werе born
You died by the hangman's hand

Yes, they're hanging Joe Bean this morning
For a shooting that he never did
He killed twenty men by the time he was ten
He was an unruly kid
Yes, they're hanging Joe Bean for the one shooting
That Joe Bean never did

Well, Joe, your mother is at the Capitol
Asking the governor for a stay
And it's hard on her 'cause she knows where you were
On that particular day
You were working Joe Bean, hard working
Robbing the Santa Fe

Well, the telegraph wires are humming
Here, the governor's words come through
He said, I can't set you free, it's not up to me
But there's much, Joe Bean, I'll do
I'll join your mother in extending birthday greetings to you
Happy birthday, Joe Bean!

"June Carter! Let's get June out here! Let's get June Carter and the Tennessee Three back out right now."