Guess I'll have to hap a freight train
I rather rails from where I am
To the golf of Mexico, the Muscle Shoals Alabama.
A felon Benton grave, condemned to walk a branded man.
Thirty years of hard time
They'll cut you loose and set you free
There is bound to be a price for, every promise you don't keep
Well I paid mine in that hellhole, where the Devil never sleeps
The warden said to me: "John, we're sympathetic to your cause."
As they measured me, for my long pine box. (coffing)
And for my ball and chain, skin tight around the clock.
A prisoner sees his dreams in the shape of a key.
I saw mine from that hole, folded hands on bended knees.
Where there is no forgiveness, nor honor among thieves.
Bad news come in threes
To no good lion killing thieves
Just one more branded man
With the mark of the beast
Thirty years of hard time
They cut you loose and set you free
There's gonna be a price for every promise you don't keep
I paid mine in that hellhole
Where the Devil never sleeps
Wailing and gnashing of teeth
Where the Devil never sleeps