I've got a sad sad story friend that I don't like to tell

I had a home and fam'ly when they locked me in this cell

I've been in here eighteen years a long long time I know

But time don't mean a thing to me cause I've got life to go

Well I went one night where the lights were bright just to see what I could see

I met up with the old friend who just thought the world of me

Well he brought me drinks and he took me to every honky tonk in town

Then words were said and now he's dead I just had to bring him down

Well it's been a long long time now since I've heard from my wife

I know I'd be there with her yet if I hadn't used the knife

Well I'll bet that little girl of mine don't realize or know

Her daddy's been here eighteen years and still got life to go

Well I'll bet there's not one man outside that's spent this long in jail

I'll be here in this prison till my body's just a shell

No I can't be free to go and see the ones that I love so

I've been in here eighteen years I've still got life to go

Yes I've still got life to go oh I've still got life to go