There's a small jail in Georgia that you all know
Where the sun's so hot and the daylight don't show.
Where the moccasin she rests on a soft bed of sand
You can hear the hound dogs howling out the land.

It ain't the way I wanted it,
But Lord that's the price you pay.

I said jailer bring me water for my throat is dry
Four walls, steel bars, I've been watching passersby
I've been sittin' here so damn long I'm startin' to cry
The hangman's coming, I'm surely going to die.

It ain't the way I wanted it,
But Lord that's the price you pay.
Oh, honk on it, boy
A little jail cell blues here

I shot a man in Macon over a poker game
I killed another in Atlanta just to build my fame
Well, know I hear them hammers, they're pounding out my name.

It ain't the way I wanted it,
But that's the price you pay.
It ain't the way I wanted it,
But Lord that's the price you pay.

Hey jailer, how about that water my throat's still dry
Four walls, steel bars, I've been watching passersby
I've been sittin' here so damn long I'm starting to cry
The hangman's coming, I'm surely going to die.

It ain't the way I wanted it,
But Lord that's the price you pay
(repeat)
It ain't the way I wanted it,
But Lord that's the price you pay.
Oh, you done run out of rope, son.

Copyright: RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Writer(s): BOB HUCKABA, CECIL BERRIER, DANNY JOE BROWN, STEVEN JEROME HOLLAND