Twelve men broke loose in '73

From millhaven maximum security

Twelve pictures lined up across the front page

seems the mounties had a summertime war to wage

The chief told the people they had nothing to fear

The last thing they'd wanna do is hang around here

They mostly came from towns with long French names

But one of the dozen was a hometown shame



Same pattern on the table, same clock on the wall

Been one seat empty 18 years in all

Freezing slow time away from the world

He's 38 years old, never kissed a girl

He's 38 years old, never kissed a girl



We were sitting round table, heard the telephone ring

Father said he'd tell me if he saw anything

Heard the tap on the window in the middle of the night

Held back the curtains for my older brother Mike



See my sister got raped, so a man got killed

Local boy went to prison, man's buried on the hill

Folks went back to normal when they closed the case

They still stare at their shoes when they pass our place



My mother cried "The horror has finally ceased"

He whispered "yeah, for the time being, at least"

Over his shoulder, on the squad car megaphone

Said "Let's go Michael, son, we're taking you home"



Same pattern on the table, same clock on the wall

Been one seat empty 18 years in all

Freezing slow time away from the world

He's 38 years old, never kissed a girl

He's 38 years old, never kissed a girl