(Rodney Crowell)

You looked for trouble and you found it son
Straight down the barrel of a lawman's gun
You'd try to run but you don't think you can
You make one move and you're a dead man friend.

I ain't living long like this
I can't live at all like this can I baby
He slipped the handcuffs on behind my back
Then left me freezin' on a steelrail truck
They got 'em all in the jailhouse, ain't they baby
I ain't living long like this.

Grew up in Houston off of wayside drive
Son of a carhop in some old night dive
Dad drove a stock car to an early death
All I remember was a drunk man's breath.

I ain't living long like this
Oh, I can't live at all like this can I baby
We know the story how the wheel goes round
Don't let 'em take you to the man downtown
Can't sleep at all in the jailhouse baby
I ain't living long like this.

Can't living long like this, can I baby?

--- Instrumental ---

You live for angel she's a roadhouse queen
Make Texas Ruby look like Sandra Dee
You want to love her but you don't know how
You're at the bottom of the jailhouse now.

I ain't living long like this
I can't live at all like this can I baby
You know the story 'bout the jailhouse rock
Go on and do it but just don't get caught
They got 'em all in the jailhouse ain't they baby
I ain't living long like this.

Can't living long like this can I baby
Can't living long like this.

--- Instrumental to fade ---