I've Got Rights
Rights Unleashed: Pursuit of Justice in Hank Williams, Jr.'s Ballad
Lyrics
I went down to the Mary Carter Paint store
I visited the Mary Carter Paint store.
I said give me one of them Smith & Wesson magnum 44's
I requested a Smith & Wesson Magnum 44 firearm.
Cause there's a man that the law let loose
Referring to a man released by the law.
And justice was not done
Justice was not served in this case.
This man killed my wife and my only little son
The man killed the narrator's wife and only son.
I'll never forget the way he looked all thru the trial
Recalling the man's demeanor during the trial.
He had his big named lawyer
The man had a prominent lawyer defending him.
And he had that smirkey smile
Describing the man's smirky smile.
Whoa yeah he got you off on a technicality
The man was acquitted on a technicality.
But you have to grow wings and fly
Suggesting the impossibility of escaping the narrator.
To ever get away from me
Implies a determination to seek justice.
Cause I got rights
Asserting the narrator's rights.
I got rights too
Reiterating the narrator's rights.
And this time there won't be no damn lawyers
No reliance on lawyers and systems for protection.
And systems to protect you
Emphasizing the narrator's intent.
I'm gonna read you
Expressing the narrator's readiness to speak.
I'm gonna read you your rights
The narrator will inform the man of his fate.
You got a right to know that you gonna go
Highlighting the man's impending punishment.
To hell one of these black nights
Referring to a dark and punishing future.
And when the trial was over he had the nerve to say
After the trial, the man accepted the outcome.
That's the way it goes
Accepting the consequences of his actions.
I said well hoss you better get you some corks
Suggesting the man protect himself from harm.
Cause your gonna have to plug up a few holes
Implying the man will face retribution.
Guess he thought I was talking
Indicating the man's misunderstanding of the narrator.
Just to pass away time
Suspecting the man thinks the narrator is idle.
But he kinda looks different now
The man looks different begging for mercy.
On his knees begging for his life
The man is on his knees seeking forgiveness.
He I got rights
Reaffirming the narrator's rights.
I got some rights too
Reiterating the narrator's rights.
And this time there won't be no damn lawyers
No reliance on lawyers and systems for protection.
And systems to protect you
Emphasizing the narrator's intent.
But I'm gonna read you
Expressing the narrator's readiness to speak.
I'm gonna read you your rights
The narrator will inform the man of his fate.
Because I want you to know that you're gonna go
Highlighting the man's impending punishment.
To hell one of these black nights
Referring to a dark and punishing future.
Naw and this time there n'aint no damn lawyers
No reliance on lawyers and systems for salvation.
And systems to save you
Emphasizing the narrator's intent.
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