25 Minutes To Go

Album: At Folsom Prison (1968)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written by the poet and children's author Shel Silverstein, who was known for his rather dark sense of humor. The song is about a guy who is about to be executed by hanging, and he's counting down how much time he has before he meets his doom, starting with 25 minutes. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Donovan Berry - El Dorado, AR
  • Appropriately, Cash performed this at a concert at Folsom Prison. A year later, Cash scored big at a prison concert with another Silverstein composition: "A Boy Named Sue."

Comments: 2

  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenSilverstein's original version was darker, too: Third line says "And in twenty-five minutes, I'll be in Hell."

    Later on, it goes "Well, my lawyer says he's sorry he missed my case...Fifteen minutes to go...Yeah, well if you're so sorry, come up and take my place. I got fourteen minutes to go."
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaWondered who was the artist for the song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

dUg Pinnick of King's X

dUg Pinnick of King's XSongwriter Interviews

dUg dIgs into his King's X metal classics and his many side projects, including the one with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.