By David Allan Coe

BACK IN 1953

WE STOLE A CAR OLD MERLE AND ME

NEVER THINKING WED BE PUT IN JAIL

YOU MIGHT SAY THAT WE WERE GREEN

I WAS BARELY SEVENTEEN

WHEN THEY PUT THOSE BARS BETWEEN OLD MERLE AND ME



LATE ONE NIGHT WE HIT THE WALL

TWENTY FEET WE HAD TO FALL

TO THE GROUND WHERE WE COULD CRAW INTO THE WEEDS

WAITING FOR THAT SHOTGUN BLAST

NEVER THINKING WE COULD LAST

WE SURE HAD TO GROW UP FAST, OLD MERLE AND ME



WE WERE YOUNG AND CRAZY THEN

IT WAS EASY TO PRETEND

ACTING LIKE WED NEVER BEEN IN REFORM SCHOOL

LOOKING DANGER IN THE EYE

WALKING WITH OUR HEADS HELD HIGH

WE WERE NOT AFRAID TO DIE, OLD MERLE AND ME



WE WERE LIVING BY THE GUN

NEVER CARING WHAT WED DONE

SWEARING IT WAS ALL JUST FUN AND GAMES YOU KNOW

WE WOULD DIE AND GO TO HELL

BEFORE WE BROKE OUR VOW TO TELL

HOW WE ESCAPED THAT PRISON CELL. OLD MERLE AND ME



HOW WAS MERLE OR ME TO KNOW

WE WOULD END UP ON DEATH ROW

WAITING FOR OUR TURN IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR

SHOT DOWN IN A GROCERY STORE

WE GOT BUSTED AT THE DOOR

PRAYING WASN'T EASY FOR OLD MERLE AND ME