My hands I watched them, right one on the wheel Left one sitting peacefully against the door I couldn't believe the things they could do When you've been knocked one too many times to The fl oor And my veins they roared and fl owed with a venom They just seemed so possessed I couldn't believe the power that was in them After the damage was assessed Don't preach to me man, you didn't see how she was Looking at me Thinking about the murder in the fi rst degree Seemed like the thing took me over Wondering where I should go Maybe north to the border, maybe west to California Maybe south down to Mexico Struck me as being a bit too predictable And Lord how I hate to be read But the bars around us were too restrictable No matter what was spoken things were left unsaid I thought about her screaming as I crossed into Tennessee Thinking about the murder in the fi rst degree Now all I ever wanted to do was make her happy Tell me what's wrong with that She said "It's too late now," she put on her coat And she started reaching for her hat So I grabbed her arm I said "Why you doing this?" She pulled away I ripped her jacket sleeve She said something I didn't realize in my shock and Then She proceeded to leave, she said "My love's grown differently for you, baby can't you See?" Thinking about the murder in the fi rst degree All the saints are dressed in black on this gloomy Afternoon Tonight there shall be no turning back The evening's bitten by the bleeding moon My conscience feels like it's gonna erupt Because I see her face everywhere And my heart pounds like those coffi n sounds I can almost see her lying there I'm haunted by the past, haunted by her memory Haunted by the murder in the fi rst degree Haunted by the murder in the fi rst degree