D               A                 G               D 
I got a sad sad story friend that I don't like to tell I 
                A                G                 D 
 had a home and family when they locked me in this cell I 
 G            A        G                   D 
 been in here 18 years thats a long time I know but time 
              A           G             D 
 don't mean a thing to me I got life to go. I went one 
                 A                     G 
 night where the lights were bright to see what I could 
 D                     A              G 
 see I met up with and old friend who thought the world of 
 D     G                       A                G 
 me he bought me drinks and he took me to every honky tonk 
    D                        A                    G 
 in town words were said and now he's dead I just had to 
           D                           A              G 
 bring him down. It's been a long long time now since I 
               D                        A 
 heard from my wife I know I'd be there with her if I 
 G              D       G               A 
 hadn't used my knife I bet that little girl of mine don't 
 G          D                      A            G 
 realize or know daddy's been here 18 years and still got 
         D                         G                 G 
 life to go. I bet there's not one man outside who's spent 
              D                         A 
 this long in jail I'll be here in this prison till my 
 G             D       G                A 
 body's just a shell I can't be free to go and see the 
 G                 D                 A            G 
 one's that I love so I been in here 18 years and still 
            D  G                 D  G                 D 
got life to go yes I got life to go still got life to go.