Classic Country Lyrics: "Branded Man" von Merle Haggard

Gefängnislieder waren schon lange vor Merle
Haggard ein grosser Teil der Countrymusik, doch
einen Song über die Probleme eines entlassenen
Ex-Häftlings zu schreiben, da musste erst einer
kommen, der das selber erlebt hatte.

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 satis-
fied
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 traveled, the black mark follows 
me
I'm branded with a number on my name

Repeat verse 1

If I live to be a hundred, I 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

Repeat verse 1

Now I'm a branded man out in the cold