The D.A. is dressed to the nines
In the mirror he practices all his lines
To his closing argument twelve hearts beat in favor
I'm guessing that he read the morning paper
The headline reads "the man hangs, but the jury doesn't"

And everyone's looking for relief
United States versus disbelief
Mothers cast tears on both sides of the aisle
Clear your throat and face the war
The verdict falls like bachelors or bad luck girls
Only breathing with the aid of denial.

Case open, case shut,
But you could pay to close it like a casket
Baby boy can't lift this headache up...
Isn't it tragic? (Whoaaa-ooo)

He glances at his peers sitting, seven to twelve sacked
[the/that(?)] one to six the gallery is hushed
Boys in three pieces dream of grandstanding and bravado
The city sleeps in a cell not withstanding what we all know
Hang on a rope or baited breath
Whichever you prefer

And everyone's looking for relief
A bidding war for an old friend's grief
The coffin kid, the coffin's charm and the cause
Not a word that could make you comprehend
Too well dressed for the witness stand
The press prays for whichever headlines worse

Case open, case shut,
But you could pay to close it like a casket
Baby boy can't lift this headache up
Isn't it tragic? (Whoaaa-ooo)

Fresh pressed suit and tie
I am desperate, sing and die
Can talk my way out of anything
The foreman reads the verdict
"In the above entitled actions we find the defendant
Guilty..."

Case open, case shut,
But you could pay to close it like a casket
Baby boy can't lift this headache up
Isn't it tragic?
[x2]

(Whoaaa-ooo)