Mitchell County Jail Fire

The Fire At The County Jail

What could have happened in our little town

So odd and profound to have rumors abound?

Eight men died in the foulest of smoke.

They struggled to breathe but in the end they would choke.

Imprisoned in a crude, dilapidated jail,

Any reasonable inspection, it should easily fail.

The guards and deputies tried to free every inmate

But nothing they did could alter their fate.

The Bakersville Fire and Rescue answered the call.

They were trained and prepared to give it their all.

It was darker than night as they ran to the cells.

Their oxygen tanks filtered the smoke and smells.

The jail was a maze, there were too many keys.

Why was their job hampered by obstacles such as these?

They pulled and carried the inmates out.

They tried their best without a doubt.

They preformed CPR doing all they could do,

Hoping that all would eventually pull through.

They ran back in to do it again,

So I believe it to be another great sin,

To even begin to offend our valiant women and men.

No one should have to defend the bravest of people on whom we depend.

I’ve heard remarks about the dead.

I’ve heard things that shouldn’t be said.

Remove the cinder from your eye.

Know that but for the grace of God go you or I.

Some were young men for heavens sakes,

Beginning their lives and making mistakes.

I have too much that I want to say,

Like who put these people into harms way?

The jail was inspected?

I say the truth was rejected.

And it’s way too obvious that lives weren’t respected.

That’s not true some might say?

It’s plain to see our leaders looked the other way.

It can’t be so some say to me.

You’re certainly barking up the wrong tree.

But I’ve been around and I’m telling you

They looked the other way, it’s sad but true.

It’s not very popular to stand your ground

When you see that our leaders haven’t been sound.

Almost two million died because of Vietnam.

It was all for money and not many people gave a damn.

So some try to point to where the blame lies,

But I smell a smell that’s drawing flies.

Don’t point that finger and give us a curse.

Not one firefighter made that fire worse.

If they hadn’t trained and done what was right,

They may not have saved 12 people that night.

That jail was bad for 50 years,

And that’s why Mitchell County is full of tears.

So please don’t point your finger and think you’re more morally fit.

For this is just another Peyton Place and you’re all full of Harper Valley shit.