Music Video

Featured In

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Vocals
Merle Haggard & The Strangers
Merle Haggard & The Strangers
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Mark Chalecki
Mark Chalecki
Mastering Engineer
Jim Beavers
Jim Beavers
Compilation Producer
Ken Nelson
Ken Nelson
Producer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I'd like to hold my head up
And be proud of who I am
But they won't let my secret go untold
I paid the debt I owed 'em
But they're still not satisfied
Now I'm a branded man, out in the cold
[Verse 2]
When they let me out of prison
I held my head up high
Determined I would rise above the shame
But, no matter where I'm livin'
The black mark follows me
I'm branded with a number on my name
[Verse 3]
I'd like to hold my head up
And be proud of who I am
But they won't let my secret go untold
I paid the debt I owed 'em
But they're still not satisfied
Now I'm a branded man, out in the cold
[Verse 4]
If I live to be a hundred
I guess I'll never clear my name
'Cause everybody knows I've been in jail
No matter where I'm livin'
I've got to tell 'em where I've been
Or they'll send me back to prison, if I fail
[Verse 5]
I'd like to hold my head up
And be proud of who I am
But they won't let my secret go untold
I paid the debt I owed 'em
But they're still not satisfied
Now I'm a branded man, out in the cold
Now I'm a branded man, out in the cold
Written by: Merle Haggard
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