[Verse 1]
They sent me to this prison for a crime I did outside
I killed a man and didn't hang but I might as well have died
For every minute that I live I know that death may call
You see his brother's here with me right inside these walls

[Chorus]
And I don't even know his face but I'm sure that he knows mine
The eyes of death are watchin' me just bidin' his time
(Oh Lord he takes his time)

[Verse 2]
Each night they slam my lonely cell and turn the lights down low
And I can't close my eyes to sleep because somewhere I know
He's planning how he'll drive the knife into my pounding heart
And Lord this just not knowing when will tear a man apart

[Chorus]
He's just a number not a name and he'll get me from behind
The eyes of death are watching me just biding his time
(Oh Lord he takes his time)

[Verse 3]
Sometimes I think I'll try to walk and face the deadly guns
I'd either die or I'd be free to leave this place and run
This man he's sworn to make me pay but he'd rather see me cry
So he'll just play around with me while I wait to die
[Chorus]
No prison ever held the man with a sentence just like mine
The eyes of death are watching me just biding his time
(Oh Lord he takes his time)

[Outro]
He's biding his time
(Oh Lord he takes his time)
He's just biding his time
(Oh Lord—)