By David Allan Coe
BACK IN 1953
WE STOLE A CAR OLD MERLE AND ME
NEVER THINKING WED BE PUT IN JAIL
YOU MIGHT SAY THAT WE WERE GREEN
I WAS BARELY SEVENTEEN
WHEN THEY PUT THOSE BARS BETWEEN OLD MERLE AND ME

LATE ONE NIGHT WE HIT THE WALL
TWENTY FEET WE HAD TO FALL
TO THE GROUND WHERE WE COULD CRAW INTO THE WEEDS
WAITING FOR THAT SHOTGUN BLAST
NEVER THINKING WE COULD LAST
WE SURE HAD TO GROW UP FAST, OLD MERLE AND ME

WE WERE YOUNG AND CRAZY THEN
IT WAS EASY TO PRETEND
ACTING LIKE WED NEVER BEEN IN REFORM SCHOOL
LOOKING DANGER IN THE EYE
WALKING WITH OUR HEADS HELD HIGH
WE WERE NOT AFRAID TO DIE, OLD MERLE AND ME

WE WERE LIVING BY THE GUN
NEVER CARING WHAT WED DONE
SWEARING IT WAS ALL JUST FUN AND GAMES YOU KNOW
WE WOULD DIE AND GO TO HELL
BEFORE WE BROKE OUR VOW TO TELL
HOW WE ESCAPED THAT PRISON CELL OLD MERLE AND ME

HOW WAS MERLE OR ME TO KNOW
WE WOULD END UP ON DEATH ROW
WAITING FOR OUR TURN IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
SHOT DOWN IN A GROCERY STORE
WE GOT BUSTED AT THE DOOR
PRAYING WASN'T EASY FOR OLD MERLE AND ME