Story Behind The Song
I wrote this song when the Unabomber was turned in by his brother. Later when I first began playing it live, Monica Lewinsky's plea bargain deal with the special prosecutors was in the news, so it was easy to set up for the audience. The dilemma in each story is the same: could you turn against someone you thought you'd always be loyal to, if the circumstances were severe enough?
Song Description
The singer is being pressed by the prosecutors to turn state's evidence and testify against the singee. What's more important: saving my skin or my loyalty to you?
| Song Length |
4:25 |
Genre |
Country - General, Blues - General |
| Tempo |
Very Slow (Under 70) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Troubled, Poignant |
Subject |
Relationship, Justice |
| Language |
English |
Era |
2000 and later |
Lyrics
TESTIFY
VERSE 1
Testify, they want me to raise my hand,
Want me to tell them all our secrets, you and I.
Oh you know they’re squeezing me,
They say they’ll go easy on me,
And all I gotta do is testify.
VERSE 2
Testify, they’re saying that you broke the law,
And I reckon if you’re guilty, so am I.
They’re saying turn my back on you,
The hardest thing I’ll ever do,
If I let ‘em make me testify.
BRIDGE
Do I tell them how we swore we’d stay together,
How I said I’d stand beside you ‘til the end?
Tell me will this broken promise last forever,
If I trade away my soul to save my skin?
VERSE 3
Testify, they say I got to tell the truth,
And they’ll hurt me if they catch me in a lie.
So tonight I walk the floor,
Don’t know what’s true anymore,
And all I gotta do is testify.