here to eternity lyrics

On a hot summer's night in the year of '75
Jimmy Doyle took his child bride Amanda for a drive
She was only seventeen, he just lived to see her smile
Their commitment to each other burned like a forest fire

Otis on the radio singing, 'Stand by me'
As a trooper pulled them over and said, "Jimmy, where you been?"
Someone matching your description has just robbed the liquor store
Amanda said, "He's been with me", but they weren't listening anymore

Down at precinct number five, they questioned Jimmy through the night
The sheriff said, "He's gotta stand trial"
Armed robbery is the charge, Amanda said, "This cannot be"
Gonna stay right here until you set him free

I love him, here to eternity
Forever, unto eternity
Oh, God gave me something I must hold on to
Gonna hold on to him, no matter what you do
I love him, here to eternity
Yeah

The old courthouse was crowded as the judge reviewed the case
In a year of re-election, he was desperate to impress
Innocent or guilty, he saw an opportunity
To send Jimmy down for life to the penitentiary

Disbelief and anger as they dragged him away
In a cell below the courthouse, they beat him like a slave
But his use of martial arts, struck a blow for liberty
Felled a guard with a fist of iron and killed him instantly

All the press surrounded Amanda, coming down the courthouse steps
Pleading for her young man's life
And in a moment seen by millions, she bowed her head and cried
Show my man some mercy, he's the father of my child

I love him, here to eternity
Forever, unto eternity
Oh, God gave me something I must hold on to
Gonna hold on to him, no matter what you do
I love him, here to eternity

Jimmy Doyle appeared again in a second public trail
For the murder of a prison guard, they sentenced him to die
But Amanda with her long red hair made one last plea
As the court fell into silence, she cried out desperately

This man of mine is innocent as one day I shall prove
It's an open case of self defense
And all this circumstantial evidence you place before your court
Has robbed me of my husband, forget I will not

I love him, here to eternity
Forever, unto eternity
Oh, goodbye Jimmy 'til we meet again
In a better world than this, I swear I'll clear your name
'Cos I love you, here to eternity
Yeah