25 Minutes to Go

"25 Minutes to Go" is a song performed by the Brothers Four in 1963 on the album Cross Country Concert. The song was written by Shel Silverstein.

Lyrics

The song is literally "gallows humor", as it is sung by a man awaiting his own execution by hanging. Each verse consists of two lines, of which the first line is anything from humorous to poignant, and the second line is a minute-by-minute countdown.

Well they're buildin' the gallows outside my cell. I got 25 minutes to go.

And the whole town's waitin' just to hear me yell. I got 24 minutes to go.

The song is similar in concept to Silverstein's kiddy song "Boa Constrictor": It presents the point of view of someone who is experiencing a calamity in "real time," composing and singing as the events unfold, with a fatal conclusion. ("Boa Constrictor", like "25 Minutes to Go", appeared on Silverstein's 1962 album Inside Folk Songs.

Cover versions

• Johnny Cash on his 1965 album Sings the Ballads of the True West and on his famous 1968 live album, At Folsom Prison.
• Danish Singer Povl Dissing with the band Beefeaters - 25 Minutter endnu (1967 single)
• Flemish singer Will Tura from Belgium as "20 minuten geduld" in 1968.
• Swedish folk singer sv:Ewert Ljusberg on Goknul (1972).
• American avant-garde singer Diamanda Galás on Malediction & Prayer (1998, Asphodel Records).
• British cult band Tiger Lillies on 2 Penny Opera (2001).
• American country/rock band Pine Valley Cosmonauts on The Executioner's Last Songs (2002).
• German metal band Dezperadoz on their third album An Eye for an Eye.
• German Singer Gunter Gabriel on his Album The Tennessee-Recordings (2003).
• American rock band Pearl Jam on their 2004 album Live at Benaroya Hall.