Songfacts®:

• This song is about the execution-by injection of Jonathan Nobles, which Steve Earle witnessed. The alt-country star told Mojo magazine May 2008 about it: "I don't recommend it. I befriended Jonathan for several months beforehand. Then I saw the execution and later brought his remains to England for burial according to his wishes. But the execution was incredibly toxic to me. It's hard. You can't believe it's really happening. I remember afterwards I thought, 'did I black out and miss it? I let Jonathan down.' Then the blank filled in… it was the shock… I realized exactly what I'd seen. I can't see myself doing it again. I've absorbed enough death. And I still work hard against the death penalty."
• Nobles was convicted of murdering two women while on drugs. But in prison, he reformed and became a devout Roman Catholic. Catholics cite Nobles, his reformation and conversion, among many other examples of why the death penalty should be abolished.
• Steve Earle is also a former drug addict who has spent time in jail on criminal charges (firearms). He is a prolific songwriter who has worked for a number of controversial causes. He wrote an account of his meetings with Noble for Tikkun, a Jewish magazine about issues in culture and society. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Ekristheh - Halath, for above 2