Verse One: 
G          D        C           D 
It doesn't start it just begins 
G      D         C             D 
With a gun and a liquor store 
G          D       C            D 
Like every thief I know I can't win 
C                              D 
Just don't know when or where 
G          D      C         D 
I pulled a job in Tennessee 
G        D           C          D 
A little bank with a big score 
G      D       C        D      C                      D 
Shot a guy who didn't believe, he never had a prayer 
 
chorus: 
C        D               G 
If I get caught, I don't mind 
C           D                     G 
I stole the money, nearly lost my mind 
C            D                 Em 
I can't take back the things I did 
C                D                  G 
You can play the game but you can't win 
 
Verse Two: 
G         D     C          D G         D          C    D 
Me and my wife, Barbara Jean went on a spree in Nevada 
G             D                C                  D 
Man she could drive, she could go like the breeze 
C                       D 
She got us outta there 
G      D            C      D G            D            C      D 
Headed south to New Orleans, she couldn't live like an outlaw 
G        D        C         D     C                       D 
Said goodbye on a tropical beach, sun in her pretty hair 
 
Chorus: 
C        D               G 
If I get caught, I don't mind 
C           D                     G 
I stole the money, nearly lost my mind 
C            D                 Em 
I can't take back the things I did 
C                D                  G 
You can play the game but you can't win 
 
Instrumental (like a verse) 
 
Verse Three: 
G           D          C              D 
Prisons are built with stones of law 
G             D           C       D 
Brothels with bricks of religion 
G            D          C           D 
I've been in both and I know that I saw 
C                     D 
God answer a sinner's prayers 
G           D       C          D G      D          C      D 
We played a game we couldn't win to the end to the utmost 
G         D             C              D 
We took a chance, threw caution to the wind, 
C                D 
We simply didn't care 
 
Chorus: 
C        D               G 
If I get caught, I don't mind 
C           D                     G 
I stole the money, nearly lost my mind 
C            D                 Em 
I can't take back the things I did 
C                D                  G 
You can play the game but you can't win 
C                D                  G 
You can play the game but you can't win