I've got a sad, sad story friends, that I don't like to tell I had a home and family then, they locked me in this cell I've been in here eighteen years, that's a long time I know But, time don't mean a thing to me 'cause, I've got life to go I went one night where the lights were bright To see what I could see I met up with an old friend there, who thought the world of me He bought me drinks, and he took me to every honky tonk in town But, words were said, and now he's dead I just had to bring him down It has been a long time now since I've heard from my wife I guess I'd be there with her yet if, I hadn't used the knife I'll bet that little girl of mine, don't realize or know Her daddy's been here eighteen years and, still got life to go I'll bet there's not one man outside that's spent this long in jail I'll be here in this prison till my body's just a shell I can't be free to go and see the ones that I love so Yes, I've been in here eighteen years, and I still got life to go Yes, I still got life to go Yes, I still got life to go