[mmichaels1970]

I didn’t favor the song because it seemed to be about a guy getting out of prison.

I took the opposite view. I favored the song because to me it was a story about redemption. He told her he'd totally understand if she didn't want him back, and he would put all of the blame on himself.

Of course I was 3 years old at the time.

[Fiji Hill]

The Flamingos' recording of I'll Be Home, from 1956, includes the phrase "my time's about up" as well as "I'll be home to start serving you" and "once more, our love will be free." Were these references to a prison term? In any case, Pat Boone's version of the song changed "my time's about up" to "my mind's made up."