He's twenty one and jealous of the shadow outside the fence Got a bible from his cellmate he's searching for a second chance Hopes than he can make it outside before his little girl learns to talk Hopes he can get it all figured out before the judge says that he can walk Chorus: Cause it's hotwired, too tired from being who he's been Car theft, what's left he ain't ever going back again He ain't never going back to tie himself to the whipping pole His American dream's like the county line sign that he shot full of holes And two to four don't seem like much till you're stuck in an eight by ten He felt guilty damn near all his life and much more now than then He wrote a letter to Jesus last night and he nailed it up to the cross Yeah he's free in his heart but at night in the dark, you know the man he's still the boss Chorus He walked through the gate last Thursday and headed on into town What did he see but a Cadillac there with all it's windows down Chorus 2: And it's broke down, hands bound and it's back to who he was No change it seems strange, it ain't ever been push or shove And now he's going back to tie himself to the whipping pole And his American dream the county sign that he shot full of holes