( verse )

A
i look 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 a dead man
D
ain’t living long like this
A
can’t live at all like this , can i baby?
E
he slipped the handcuffs on behind my back

and left me reeling on a steel reel rack
D
they got’em all in the jailhouse baby
A
ain’t living long like this

can’t live at all like this , can i baby?

( verse )

A
grew up in houston off the wayside drives

son of a carhop and some all night dives

dad drove a stock car to an early death

all i remember was a drunk man’s breath
D
ain’t living long like this
A
can’t live at all like this , can i baby?
E
you know the story how the wheel goes ’round

don’t let them take you to the man down town
D
can’t sleep at all in a jailhouse baby
A
ain’t living long like this

can’t live at all like this , can i baby?

( instrumental )

( verse )

A
i live with angel she’s a roadhouse queen

makes 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
D
ain’t living long like this
A
can’t live at all like this , can i baby?
E
you know the story about the jailhouse rock

don’t want to do it but just don’t get caught
D
they got’em all in the jailhouse baby
A
ain’t living long like this

can’t live at all like this , can i baby?

( instrumental )