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 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 he left me freezing on a steel rail rack

I can't sleep at all in the jailhouse baby

I ain't living long like this

Grew up in Houston off of Vayside Drive

Son of a car hop in some all 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

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

They got 'em all in the jailhouse baby

I ain't living long like this

I can't live at all like this can I baby

I live with angel she's a roadhouse 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 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 baby

I ain't living long like this

I can't live at all like this can I baby