The Girl On Death Row ~ Lee Hazlewood
Duane Eddy’s twangy guitar intro is deep and resonant…but Lee Hazlewood’s voice is smoother and higher than you remember. This is an early performance from Lee, well before he met up with Nancy Sinatra. Released in 1960, “The Girl On Death Row (Why Must I Die)” seems obviously inspired by Terry Moore’s 1960 “Why Must I Die” film, which was in turn inspired by the 1958 Susan Hayward opus “I Want To Live.” The tune lopes along at a country-rock pace as Lee sketches in the story: “They take her life tomorrow. Is she guilty? She says no. The girl on death row. Now someone holds her trembling hand. Another says, “Please understand.” Why can’t they see it in her face? Another should be in her place…” (via Ill Folks: THE GIRL ON DEATH ROW - Lee Hazlewood)
