Narrator: Sheriff Glen Elewine, 1954

The boy’s blue sneakers crunched the leaves.
Briars pulled my socks and pricked into my ankles.
The sounds of cars were swallowed by the trees.
As we reached a canebrake the boy began to pick up speed.
Through the cane there came a light,
The smell of coffee,
Then a clearing and a cottage;
In a deck chair, a man with closed eyes.
He heard our footsteps and said, “my son, sometimes it hurts to do what’s right.”

I asked about his wife and girl.
He startled, then he struck a gaze that never wavered.
He walked me to a crude, perfumed hut.
To its side were two mounds marked with rocks, freshly dug.
I pulled my cuffs, and I thought,

Some folks say they’ll pray for me; and other ones, they wish me luck.
Well, either way, I know I’m gonna need it.

When the case finally went to trial
The talk of justice in the town had reached a fever.
Sermons preached of false gods exercised.
But as he took the stand, I saw conviction in his eyes.

Circuit Judge M. Cramner:
“Roman Cyprus Bright, you’ve been charged with participating in witchcraft,
culminating in bizarre acts of subjugation against your wife and
daughter and two counts of murder in the first degree. How do you
plead?”

Roman:
“Not guilty! See,
In Genesis 3:16, God said to the sinner Eve,
‘Your husband shall rule over thee’
And I’ve followed that to the letter. (Leviticus 15:19-30, Leviticus 12, Luke 2:22-40)
As God struck Onan down for spilling his seed on the ground, (Genesis 38:1-10)
I only followed his design when I found my wife spilling mine.
And when my daughter cursed my name (Matthew 15:4, Leviticus 20:9) and put the Word of God to blame (Leviticus 24:16),
I kept the Law, like Abraham, but God did not stop my hand—and she stopped breathing. (Genesis 22)

Set against my child and spouse, revealed as foes in my own house, I’ve proved my love for Him devout.
Hallelujah.” (Matthew 10:34-39)

When they sentenced Roman Bright to die he cried out,

“Am I the only one who follows every line
Of this book we call Divine?
You hypocrites! False witnesses!
Your faith is just a shallow lie!”

They took him out, but he screamed:

“Hallelujah!”

Some folks say they’ll pray for me, and other ones, they wish me luck
Well, either way, I know I’m gonna need it.