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[Verse 1]

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I put away fifteen grand doing one-night stands mostly liquor stores and fillin' stations
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Me and this peepin' Tom by the name of J.D. Swan and any number of his odd blood relations
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It was armed robbery in 1957 and mostly our getaways were clean
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Then I'd pay off the boys and bury the bread out on Highway 17

[Verse 2]
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I had five kids and a wife with one dress and a yard full of cars that wouldn't run
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My two oldest boys they were on to my noise they despised what their daddy done
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But I did my thing the best I could making plans by the light of day
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And then night would fall and it was time to call and I was always on my way

[Verse 3]

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Now J.D. he was crazy and he was inbred he drank whiskey like it was goin' out of style
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You know I should have seen it coming the writing was on the wall  
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He was getting just a little too loose and wild and he made his mistake out on Airline Drive,
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You know those North Houston cops are quick they blew a hole in J.D. the size of Dallas 
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And put a lump on my head with the brunt of a nightstick
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You know that 5 to 10 in Huntsville ain't no good times boys, but I walked that line do you know what I mean
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'Cause my mind was snug on that hole I dug out on Highway 17 
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I said my mind was snug on that hole I dug out on Highway 17

[Verse 4]

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So I served my time only way I knew how thinking big and making plans
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All about the way I was gonna change the world when I get my hands on that 15 grand
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You know C.W. and Herschel my two oldest boys they took care of their momma and their little sisters
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The best way that they could dealing dimes and stealing hubcaps
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You know pretty soon they were doing good so I walked out those prison gates a free man
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On the first day of November 19 and '63 I kissed my wife and I hugged my babies
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But they didn't seem the same to me 

[Verse 5]

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You know the boys looked on they were already grown
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It was written across their eyes and their faces I'm the perfect sample of a bad example
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Gone forever from their graces, but baby six long years and a lot can change 
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Many miles beyond your wildest dreams, but a six-lane wide modern interstate ride out on Highway 17
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Man they sunk my ship 'neath a concrete strip out on Highway 17
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Man they broke my back they built a concrete track out on Highway 17
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Well, people you know it ain't funny, they buried my money out on Highway 17