Michael Martin Murphey
The Kill Pen
Well hello there, dear mama
I can see you're mighty scared
I can see you've been raisin' babies
In a pasture somewhere
They took away your babies
Left you all alone, and then
They stripped you of your pride
Brought you here to the Kill Pen

Now they're bringin' you in to the auction ring
I can hear them say
"How much will you give me, boys
To take this one away?
It looks like she's got good bloodlines
She's been left alone too long."
Now she's going to the dogs in the Kill Pen
Till she's goin', goin', gone

But I can read between the lines, girl
You and I are just the same
We're both afraid of trusting
But we should not be ashamed
I was once abandoned, too
But there's tenderness within
So I've come to buy your freedom
And get you out of this Kill Pen
You see, you and I, we're just alike
They tried to take my babies, too
Tried to kill my spirit
I was treated just like you
Then they lied to strip me of my pride
Tried to shame me to my friends
And then a Voice said
"Come and follow Me
I'll get you out of this Kill Pen."

Long ago there was an auction
And the auctioneer did say
"How much silver will you give me, boys
To take this one away?"
The Prisoner had good bloodlines
But for me He was condemned
And He shed His blood upon the cross
And got me out of this Kill Pen

Can you read between the lines, friends?
You and I are just the same
We're both afraid of trusting
But we should not be ashamed
We've all been abandoned
But there's tenderness within
So won't you come and follow Him
He'll get you out of this Kill Pen
Won't you come and follow Him
Let's all get out of this Kill Pen