One fell asleep in the street and he never woke up
One died in pieces in his bed with a mouth full of gold
One who threatened me long ago
I saw him
Melt in the bright light of day
One laid to rest in a field under starlings and crows

Chorus
I've been wandering sideways
I've stared straight into the sun
Still I don't know why you are dying
long before your time has come

One took some bullets in the chest in a deal gone wrong
One got a little too depressed so he went and jumped the gun
One got shot right in the face and somehow he survived
But he doesn't know my name or who I am
And I'm not surprised

Chorus
I've been wandering sideways
I've stared straight into the sun
Still I don't know why you are dying
long before your time has come
I've been wandering sideways
I've stared straight into the sun
Still I don't know why you are dying
long before your time has come
your time has come

I've seen 50,000 names all engraved in stone
Most of them met an early grave years before I was born
All of them left brothers and sisters and mothers behind
Most of their family and friends are still alive and doing time

Chorus
I've been wandering sideways
I've stared straight into the sun
Still I don't know why you are dying
long before your time has come
I've been wandering sideways
I've stared straight into the sun
Still I don't know why you are dying
long before your time has come
long before your time has come
long before your time has come
your time has come