Sanson’s Song – Thad Beckman

I was born with a curse

In the back of a hearse

Momma was screamin’ like hell

Daddy was drivin’

While I was arrivin’

Now this is the story I tell

I’m the oldest you see

And my daddy and me

Well, we work for the state of France

A position quite rare

Passed down through the years

But one that holds little romance

We used to do it by hand

‘Til this marvelous man

His name was Dr. Guillotin

He come up with a plan

That could behead a man

With just a blade and gravity

Now out there on the square

I walk up the stairs

I take my appointed spot

Right next to the lever

Sending you to forever

And your head goes ploppity plop, plop

Well, the first time I did it

I guess I passed out

And I fell down into the crowd

Yeah and when I awoke

My soul was broke

And the sky was fallin’ down

Now the laws of this land

They often change hands

That ain’t none of my affair

Yeah the order comes down

And we cart ‘em through town

Then we march ‘em up the stairs

Now I killed a King

And I killed the queen

I killed old Robespierre

Yeah in front of a crowd

And the crowd was loud

And there was blood flyin’ everywhere

You hate me you need me

You hate that you need me

You’re glad when I do your will

Your hands stay clean

No, they’ll never see

Not an ounce of the blood that I spill

Well, I’d quit today

But nobody will pay

And I got me a family to feed

But don’t ya worry none

I got me a son

And he’ll do what you need

Now when it’s my time to go

It’s as quiet as snow

Not a prayer, not a flower, not a stone

But I’ll be dead just the same

And be rid of this pain

That’s’ dogged my cursed soul

Yeah Sanson’s my name

And my claim to fame

I’m the Bourreau de Paris

A position quite rare

Passed down through the years

Now that’s all I’ve got to say

Inspired by the book Legacy of Death written by Barbara Levy