D G D Bad news, bad news, come to me where I sleep, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G Sayin' one of your friends is in trouble deep, Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D Tell me, the trouble tell once to my ear, G A Turn, turn, turn again, Joliet prison and ninety-nine years. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D Oh what's the charge of how this came to be, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G Manslaughter in the highest of degree. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D I sat down and wrote the best words I could write, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G Explaining to the judge I'd be there on Wednesday night. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D Without a reply I left by the moon, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G And was in his chambers by the next afternoon. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D Could ya tell me the facts? I said without fear, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G That a friend of mine would get ninety-nine years. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D A crash on the highway flew the car to a field, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G There was four persons killed and he was at the wheel. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D But I knew him as good as I'm knowin' myself, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G And he wouldn't harm a life that belonged to someone else. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D The judge spoke out of the side of his mouth, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G Sayin' the witness who saw he left little doubt. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D That may be true he's got a sentence to serve, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G But ninety-nine years he just don't deserve. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D Too late, too late for his case it is sealed G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G His sentence is passed and it cannot be repealed. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D But he ain't no criminal and his crime it is none, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G What happened to him could happen to anyone. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D And at that the judge jerked forward and his face it did freeze, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G Sayin' "Could you kindly leave my office now, please." Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D Well his eyes looked funny and I stood up so slow, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G With no other choice except but for to go. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D I walked down the hallway and I heard his door slam, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G I walked down the courthouse stairs and I could not understand. Em G A Turn, turn to the rain and the wind. D G D And I played my guitar through the night to the day, G A Turn, turn, turn again, D G And the only tune my guitar could play Em G A Was "Old cruel rain and the wind."