Lyrics: Branded Man

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

--- Instrumental ---

If I live to be a hundred, guess I'll never clear my name
'Cause everybody knows I've been in jail
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 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 them, 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...