Clarence Harrison served eighteen years in prison for a crime he did not commit. During those years his daughters grew into adulthood, his mother passed away, and the freedom of daily living was stolen from him by our criminal justice system.
"DNA (Do Not Assume)" is the first of twelve songs that were written from recorded conversations between Clarence, Ben Holst, and myself. The songs were then vetted again by Clarence for accuracy.
This song begins his story.

Lyrics

DNA (do not assume)
Hammet, Holst, c2012

Do Not Assume you know who’s guilty
Do Not Assume the truth was heard
Do Not Assume we are so different
Do Not Assume they have the final word

They gave me life plus twenty for a crime I did not do
And they added twenty more years just to break me through and through
They gave me life plus twenty but I was innocent
And they put on twenty more years just in case those years got spent

Do Not Assume you know who’s guilty
Do Not Assume the truth was heard
Do Not Assume we are so different
Do Not Assume they have the final word

I got represented by a lawyer in the hall
he just happened to be standing there that’s how he got the call
the jury found me guilty though I know we heard the same
now the whole world’s feeling safer ‘cause they found someone to blame

Do Not Assume you know who’s guilty
Do Not Assume the truth was heard
Do Not Assume we are so different
Do Not Assume they have the final word

There’s a shadow in the hall of justice
blood on Liberty’s cape
There’s a stain on the flag of freedom that no one can escape

Do Not Assume you know who’s guilty
Do Not Assume the truth was heard
Do Not Assume you are so different
Do Not Assume they have the final word

Do Not Anger or be bitter
A lesson every day I learn
Do Not Ask what would my life have been
If I could have those years returned