Sting, Shaggy - Crooked Tree lyrics

All rise for the Honorable Judge Burrell

This court is called to order
These charges are serious
Stand up and face the bench
How do you plead, Sir? How do you plead?

"Guilty as charged, " the Judge decreed
"stand up and face the bench
I have some words to say
To you before we recommence
A list of crimes this serious
I swear I have not seen
In all the years that I have
Served Her Majesty the Queen
Arson, murder, blackmail
Grand larceny and theft
Drug dealing, human trafficking, I
Ask the court, what’s left?
Are there words of mitigation
Before I pass the sentence?
Anything that you can tell the court
To add to your defense?"

I faced the court
Thought long and hard before I gave reply
"There’s something that you need to hear
From me before I die
The circumstances of my birth were
Something short of bliss
I have this from my mother
It was told to me like this

‘The day that I was born, she said
The Good Lord woke from slumber
Looking ‘round his timber yard
He found He had no lumber
Apart from some old twisted branch
In shadows left to lurk
He pulled it out into the light
And set about his work’

She told me that the world should
Not expect too much of me
When the Good Lord carved my crooked soul
Out of a crooked tree
When the Good Lord carved my crooked soul
Out of a crooked tree"

"Stand up and face the bench
I’ve heard all you’ve got to say
That there look on your
Face says you’re guilty
And now it’s your judgment day"

"I’m not asking for forgiveness
I’m not proud of what I’ve done
I did the things I had to do
Like any other mother’s son
None of us are perfect
So remember what you see
When the Good lord carved this crooked soul
Out of a crooked tree
When the Good Lord carved this crooked soul
Out of a crooked tree"