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

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.