Me and my old lady sittin’ in the shade
Talkin’ about the money that I ain’t made
Singin’ o boy dontcha line the
Track a lack a
O boy dontcha line the track
O boy dontcha line the track a lack a
O boy dontcha line the track
If I could, I surely would
Stand on the rock that Moses stood
Singin’ o boy dontcha line the track a lack a
O boy dontcha line the track
O boy dontcha line the track a lack a
O boy dontcha line the track
Drank so much hooch
It made my eyes be gettin’ blurry
They say I nailed her to the wall
A stitch in time don’t mean a thing
No hangman jury could make me crawl
Cause I’m a poor boy
Dontcha line the track a lack a
O boy dontcha line the track
O boy dontcha line the track a lack a
OOO
Whacha do with the gun that’s loaded
Shot her dead and her heart exploded
Tell me baby now d-dontcha worry
Like lying to a hangman jury
I swear I didn’t know that 45 was loaded
In fact my memory ain’t too clear
That’s not to say she didn’t get what she deserved
Least that’s the way it looks from here
Boy when you line the track a lack a
Hey boy when you line the track a lack a
Hey boy dontcha line the track
OOO when love come tumblin’ down
OOO when love come tumblin’ down
OOO (Let’s get outta here) when love come tumblin’
And every night she take her thing into the city
and in the mornin’ make me beg
cause if I’d taken all her real titty gritty
I’d smack her right upside the head boy
Dontcha line the track a lack a
Hey boy dontcha line the track
Hey boy dontcha line the track
OOO when love come tumblin’ down
OOO when love come tumblin’ down
OOO when love come tumblin’
Poor boy sweatin’ in the hot summer night
Hangman waitin’ for the early morning light
Singin’ Hey boy dontcha line the track a lack a
Hey boy dontcha line the track
Hey boy dontcha line the track a lack a
Hey boy dontcha line the track
If I could, I surely would
Stand on the rock that Moses done stood
Singin’ Hey boy dontcha line the track a lack a
Hey boy dontcha line the track
Hey boy dontcha line the track a lack a
Hey boy dontcha line the track
Southern Gothic Storytelling and Raw Emotion
“Hangman Jury” by Aerosmith is steeped in the blues tradition, blending Southern gothic storytelling with gritty, evocative imagery. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of hardship, regret, and moral ambiguity, centering on a protagonist caught in a web of poverty and crime. The recurring refrain, “dontcha line the track a lack a,” echoes the rhythmic chants of chain gangs, underscoring the song’s rootsy, Americana feel.
Struggle, Confession, and Consequence
The narrative oscillates between confessions of violence and the protagonist’s attempts to justify or obscure his actions. References to biblical figures like Moses and the presence of a hangman’s jury intensify the song’s themes of judgment and fate. By blending personal struggle with a sense of looming punishment, Aerosmith crafts a tale that is both timeless and chillingly real.
Song Credits
Songwriters: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Jim Vallance
Release Year: 1987
Label: Geffen Records