The Hardest Places I’ve Played the Blues Part Two: On Death Row

It was the most chaotic place I have ever been. It was cold and dark; the dark gray block walls echoed every whisper and scream, and you could feel evil in the air. As the chaplain opened the door, we walked in and he said, “This is death row.” These men are all condemned to die.

It was the first time this prison had allowed someone from the outside, like me, to visit death row. With my old 1946 Martin D-18 guitar in hand, we walked into the cellblock and I started singing Christmas songs. Christmas Songs, really? Yes, it was Christmas in prison. Whether you know it or not, Christmastime in prison is the hardest time of the year. All of the emotions of being locked up in that place, separated from friends and family come crashing in at this time of the year. Rather than being “merry and bright” it is “sorrow and darkness.”

As I came to the first death row cell I searched for the right song to sing. I passed on several of my gospel blues and Christian blues songs, struggling to find just the right one to play for this condemned man.

What I was looking for was a song that “I” was deeply connected to, a song that I was passionate about, at this moment in time. Then these words started coming out of my mouth about another man condemned to death: “One man hung, two men died, third man rose to righteous life, cursed is the man on a tree, death for him, life for me, death for him life for me.” The song I was singing was my song “Exchange.” It’s about the tremendous exchange that took place on The Cross, when the sinless son of God, Jesus, was condemned to die for us all.

It’s a moment I will never forget. Connection to your passion is so important in communicating from your heart to the hearts of others. Yes, I sang a gospel blues or Christian blues song. Yet, I was invested not only in the message of The Cross, but I was also personally invested in the song because of my own personal experience. I know what it is like to be condemned and I know what it is like to be free, and for that, I will be forever grateful to the One who saved me from myself.

Peace,

Jimmie

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