30 years seem to slip on by

Ernie watches little birds fly

When the clouds cut them out of view

He falls behind

He sees fog over sunny skies

He hears cries over lullabies

He sees headlights and blurry signs

And the whites of a man’s eyes

Ernie killed a guy

Ernie killed a guy

Mother calls to her boy in bed

She doesn’t fight, she goes to church instead

And lo she smiles taking in her breath

Over peering eyes

You ask anyone around

They’ll say Ernie was a fool, a clown

They would all fall silent seeing him downtown 

Walking by

Ernie killed a guy

Ernie killed a guy

Everybody in the town can rest

Everybody works and does their best

Save the girl and the widow and old Earnest

Who cannot stand to see his face

They left town to find a new place

Leaving Ernie in disgrace

30 years seem to slip on by

Mother witnesses the tears go dry

He won’t take out the garbage now

Or watch his show on Sunday night

Or throw a thing away at all

Or even pray at all

Mother thinks to herself

My dear Lord have mercy

They say Ernie killed a man

That man killed Ernie