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

ain't livin' long like this
can't live at all like this, can I baby
he slipped the handcuffs on behind my back
then left me freezin' on a steel rail rack
can't sleep at all in the jailhouse baby
ain't livin' long like this

grew up in houston on the wayside drive
son of a car hop in some all nite dive
dad drove a stock car to an early death
all I remember was a drunk man's breathe

ain't livin' long like this
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
they got 'em all in the jailhouse baby
ain't livin' long like this
can't live at all like this, can I baby
ah take it

I live for angel, she's a road house queen
makes texas ruby look like sandra dee
I want to love her but I don't know how
I'm at the bottom of a jailhouse now

ain't livin' long like this
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 baby
oh, ain't livin' long like this
oh no