I looked for trouble and I found it son
Straight down the barrel of a lawman's gun
I tried to run but I don't think I can
You make one move and you're dead man's friend
Ain't living long like this
I can't live at all like this, hey now baby

They slipped the handcuffs on behind your back
Leave you freezing on a steel rail rack
Can't sleep at all in the jailhouse, baby
Ain't living long like this, hey now baby

Grew up in Houston off of Wayside drive
Son of a car hop in some all night dive
Dad drove a stock car to an early death
All I remember was a drunk man's breath

Ain't living long like this
Can't sleep at all like this, hey now baby
We know the story how the wheel goes round
Don't let 'em take you to the man downtown
They've got 'em all in the jailhouse, baby
Ain't living long like this, hey now baby

I live for Angel, she's a roadhouse queen
Make Texas Ruby look like Sandra Dee
I want to love her but I don't know how
I'm at the bottom of the jailhouse now
Ain't living long like this
Can't sleep at all like this, hey now baby

You know the story 'bout the jailhouse rock
Go on and do it, but just don't get caught
They got 'em all in the jailhouse, baby
Ain't living long like this, hey now baby
Ain't living long like this, hey now baby

I can't sleep at all in the jailhouse