Branded Man Songtext

von Merle Haggard

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 'em, but they're still not satisfied.
Now I'm a branded man out in the cold.
When they let me out of prison, I held my head up high,
Determined I would rise above the shame.
But no matter where I travel, the black mark follows me.
I'm branded with a number on my name.

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 'em, but they're still not satisfied.
Now I'm a branded man out in the cold.
If I live to be a hundred, I guess I'll never clear my name,
'Cos everybody knows I've been in jail.
No matter where I'm living, I've got to tell 'em where I've been,
Or they'll send me back to prison if I fail.

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 'em, but they're still not satisfied.
Now I'm a branded man out in the cold.
Now I'm a branded man out in the cold.