Intro March 18th. 9:42 p.m. Lexington and Porter. I had Chinese takeout in a paper bag And a voicemail from my daughter Asking if I’d still make her school play. I texted back, “Wouldn’t miss it.” The message still says delivered. ⸻ Verse 1 At 9:40 p.m. Daniel Reyes was shot Inside Crown Market. Forty-three years old. Married. Two sons. Worked evenings So he could coach Little League on weekends. One bullet. Chest. Dead before the ambulance arrived. Security camera wasn’t recording. Only witness — a woman at the gas pumps. She saw a man run out. Black hoodie. Medium build. Late twenties. I was two blocks away Wearing my brother’s hoodie Waiting for the light to change. Sirens came fast. They pushed me to the ground Before I understood I was the one they were after. ⸻ Chorus 1 They said I did it So it must be true Wrong place, wrong jacket Wrong kind of view If the story makes sense If the pieces align Who argues with twelve When they draw the line? ⸻ Verse 2 No gun on me. No stolen cash. No blood. But I was nearby. They ran my record. Two minor arrests. Enough to suggest escalation. Lineup under white light. The witness paused. “I think that’s him.” The report read: Positive identification. Partial touch DNA From the liquor store door. Lab language: Cannot exclude. In court it became: DNA match. The prosecutor said “certainty” Again and again. My public defender objected. Overruled. Four hours of deliberation. 11:18 a.m. “Guilty.” My mother stood up and said, “He was home at eight.” Eight wasn’t 9:40. The judge said “Given the clarity of evidence…” Then he said “Death.” ⸻ Chorus 2 They said I did it So the gates closed tight Steel for the days Fluorescent for the nights Appeal denied That’s how it goes When the State feels certain Nobody slows They said I did it And the years agreed ⸻ Verse 3 Prison First question inside wasn’t about my case. It was about my race. Which table. Which block. Which side of the yard. Neutral doesn’t last long. I saw a man stabbed Over a radio. I saw guards trade pills For silence. I saw men who admitted their crimes Without hesitation. One told me, “I did it. I deserve this place.” I asked how that felt. He said, “Cleaner than lying.” By year three I stopped telling people I was innocent. Not because I changed my mind. Because nobody listens on death row. I missed my daughter’s play. Her graduation. Her first car. She stopped writing after year ten. I don’t blame her. Hope doesn’t survive on a schedule That ends with a needle. ⸻ Chorus 3 They say some crimes deserve death Some acts deserve the flame Maybe that’s right I won’t debate the pain Daniel Reyes lost his life And that will never change But what if proof Is stronger than it should be? What if belief Isn’t the same as certainty? They said I did it And that was enough ⸻ Verse 4 Seventeen years in, The state crime lab was audited. Improper storage. Cross-contamination risk. Overstated conclusions in capital trials. My case listed under Potentially impacted. The detective who ran my lineup Was named in complaints For suggestive practices. The witness signed a statement Saying she felt pressured To be sure. The court ruled Procedurally barred. Too much time had passed. An inmate in Nevada Confessed to a liquor store shooting In my city. Same week. Prosecutors called him unreliable. My execution date remained. ⸻ Bridge April 7th. 6:03 p.m. The victim’s wife is present. She looks smaller than she did at trial. If my death gives her peace I hope it works. I never met Daniel Reyes. I never walked into Crown Market. I was carrying takeout At 9:42 p.m. The warden checks the clock. The nurse checks the line. Someone signs the paper. ⸻ Final Chorus They said I did it So they moved ahead White room quiet Final words said If justice is careful Why review the lab? If doubt is harmless Why call it a gap? They said I did it And I died that way Some men deserve it That’s what they say But if you can’t undo it Be careful how sure Because once it’s finished There’s no cure ⸻ Outro Two months later State forensic review confirms Improper DNA testimony In multiple capital cases. District Attorney states “Findings unlikely to affect closed convictions.” My case remains closed. March 18th. 9:42 p.m. Lexington and Porter. Delivered.
