"25 Minutes to Go" is a song by

Shel Silverstein Sheldon Allan Silverstein (; September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American writer, poet, cartoonist, singer / songwriter, musician, and playwright. Born and raised in Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, Silverstein briefly attended universit ...

, from his 1962 album ''Inside Folk Songs''.

Lyrics

The song is literally "

gallows humor Black comedy, also known as dark comedy, morbid humor, or gallows humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discus ...

", 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 in 25 minutes I'll be in hell. :I got 24 minutes to go. And so on. The song is similar in concept to Silverstein's children's song "

Boa Constrictor The boa constrictor (scientific name also ''Boa constrictor''), also called the red-tailed boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the family B ...

": 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''. Johnny Cash was the second artist to do a cover of the song where it differs most notably by having omitted lines.

Later versions

* Brothers Four, on their 1963 album ''Cross Country Concert.'' *

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...

on his 1965 album ''

Sings the Ballads of the True West ''Johnny Cash Sings the Ballads of the True West'' is a concept double album and the 22nd overall album released by country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1965 (see 1965 in music). Covering twenty individual songs, the al ...

'' and on his 1968 live album, ''

At Folsom Prison ''Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison'' is the first live album by American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records on May 6, 1968. After his 1955 song "Folsom Prison Blues", Cash had been interested in recording a performance at a p ...

.'' * Danish singer Povl Dissing with the band The Beefeaters as "25 Minutter endnu" (1967 single). * Flemish singer

Will Tura Arthur Achiel Albert, Knight Blanckaert (born 2 August 1940 in Veurne), known by his stage name Will Tura, is a Belgian artist famous in Flanders and the Netherlands. Tura is a singer, musician (he plays the piano, guitar, drums, accordion and ha ...

from Belgium as "20 minuten geduld" in 1968. * Swedish folk singer :sv:Ewert Ljusberg on '' Goknul'' (1972). * American avant-garde singer

Diamanda Galás Diamanda Galás (born August 29, 1955) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, visual artist, and soprano. She has campaigned for AIDS education and the rights of the infected. Galás's commitment to addressing social issues and her involve ...

on '' Malediction & Prayer'' (1998, Asphodel Records). * British cult band

Tiger Lillies The Tiger Lillies are a cult British musical trio formed in 1989 by singer-songwriter Martyn Jacques. Described as the forefathers of Brechtian Punk Cabaret, the Tiger Lillies are well known for their unique sound and style which merges "the ...

on ''2 Penny Opera'' (2001). * American country/rock band

Pine Valley Cosmonauts Pine Valley Cosmonauts (PVC) are a musical ensemble from Chicago, Illinois. History The group was initiated by Jon Langford (also of the Waco Brothers and The Mekons) as a covers group, with both repertory and cast of backing members constantly ...

on ''The Executioner's Last Songs'' (2002). * German metal band

Dezperadoz Dezperadoz (formerly ''Desperados'') is a German "Western-metal" band and is the side-project of Tom Angelripper's guitarist Alex Kraft. The band plays heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by the soundtracks of the 1960s and 1970s S ...

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 Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. The band's lineup consists of founding members Jeff Ament (bass guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), and Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, guita ...

on their 2004 album ''

Live at Benaroya Hall ''Live at Benaroya Hall'' is a two-disc live album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, recorded on October 22, 2003 at Benaroya Hall, Seattle, Washington and released on July 27, 2004 through BMG. Overview The concert—which to ...

''. *Canadian band

Head of the Herd Head of the Herd is a band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The band plays a combination of blues influenced alternative rock. As of June 2015, Head of the Herd was in studio recording their album ''Birds On The Roof,'' to be released ...

on their first album ''On the House'' * Berlin-based band Dangerpony (Laura Bruce, Laurent Lavolé and others) *

Lou Reed Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942October 27, 2013) was an American musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. ...

and Emily Haines performed a version in 2011 at ''Shelebration! A tribute to the works of

'' Archived a
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Notes

Johnny Cash songs Shel Silverstein songs 1962 songs Works about capital punishment Songs about death Songs written by Shel Silverstein Black comedy music The Brothers Four songs {{1960s-country-song-stub