I'd like to hold my head up and be proud of who I am
But they won't let my secret go untold
I paid the debt I owed them, but they're still not satisfied
Now I'm a branded man out in the coldWhen they let me out of prison, I held my head up high
Determined I would rise above the shame
But no matter where I'm living, the black mark follows me
I'm branded with a number on my nameI'd like to hold my head up and be proud of who I am
But they won't let my secret go untold
I paid the debt I owed them, but they're still not satisfied
Now I'm a branded man out in the coldIf I live to be a hundred, I guess I'll never clear my name
'Cause everybody knows I've been in jai
No matter where I'm living, I've got to tell them where I've been
Or they'll send me back to prison if I failI'd like to hold my head up and be proud of who I am
But they won't let my secret go untold
I paid the debt I owed them, but they're still not satisfied
Now I'm a branded man out in the coldNow I'm a branded man out in the cold
Songwriters
MERLE HAGGARDPublished by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC