I looked for trouble and I found it, son
Straight down the barrel of a lawman's gun
I try to run but I don't think I can
You make one move and you're a dead man, friend 

Ain't livin' long like this
I ain't livin' long like this, am I baby?
He slipped the handcuffs on behind my back
He left me breathing, I was still a rocking
Got 'em all in the jailhouse
I ain't livin' long like this

Grew up in Houston off the Wayside Drive
Son of a cop as an all night dive
That double stock got to an early death
All I remember was a drunk man's breath

Ain't livin' long like this
Ain't livin' long like this, am I baby?
We know a story how the wheel goes 'round
Don't let 'em take it to the man downtown
Just leave it all in the jailhouse, baby
I ain't livin' long like this
I ain't livin' long like this, baby

I looked for Angel, she's a roadhouse queen
Make Texas Ruben look like Sandra Dee
I wanna love her but I don't know how
I'm at the bottom of the jailhouse now

Ain't livin' long like this
Ain't livin' long like this, am I baby?
You know the story 'bout the jailhouse rock
Go on and do it but just don't get caught
I got 'em all in the jailhouse, baby
I ain't livin' long like this
I ain't livin' long like this
I ain't livin' long like this, baby