They accused me of forgery
I couldn't write my name
They accused me of lookin'
And I didn't see a thing
Didn't mean to cause no trouble
And I meant no bodily harm
All I had was this body
And the muscle in this arm

They gave me the third degree
They hung me from a tree third-degree

And they're givin' me the third degree
But it's plain to see
Without a learned degree
I didn't know a choppin' hoe
Could bring a mountain down
They're givin' me the third-degree
They hung me from a tree that third-degree

She came down thе turn row
With a bucket in her hand
She brought Albеrta peaches
And they all knew I's her man
She didn't have no business
Hangin' out down where they were
An' everybody wants something
And they all wanted her

They're givin' me the third degree
But it's plain to see
Without a learned degree
I didn't know a choppin' hoe
Could bring a mountain down
They're givin' me the third-degree
They hung me from a tree that third-degree
That third-degree

Sittin' with my peaches
When I heard her crying out
Peaches in my pocket
And blood here on this ground
They took her away from me
They took her away from me
They took her away from me in a third-degree

In a third-degree it's a third-degree

Copyright: BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Writer(s): AARON LEWIS, BENJAMIN CLIFFORD KITTERMAN, IRA DEAN, JOHN CARTER CASH, JOHNNY R. CASH