I've got a sad sad story, friend, that I don't like to tell
I had a home and family, when they locked me in this cell
I've been in here eighteen years, a long, long time, I know
But time don't mean a thing to me, 'cause I've got life to go

Well, I went one night where the lights were bright, to see what I could see
I met up with an old friend who thought the world of me
Well, he brought me drinks and he took me to every honky-tonk in town
Then words were said, and now he's dead, I just had to bring him down

Well, it's been a long, long time now since I've heard from my wife
I know I'd be there with her if I hadn't used the knife
Well, I'll bet that little girl of mine don't realize or know
Her daddy's been here eighteen years, I still got life to go

Well, I bet there's not one man outside that's spent this long in jail
I'll be here in this prison 'til my body's just a shell
No, I can't be free to go and see the ones that I love so
I've been in here eighteen years, I still got life to go
Yes, I still got life to go
Yes, I still got life to go

Copyright: GLAD MUSIC CO.
Writer(s): George Jones, John R. Albamont, Roy Fred